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STRAUB 

BLOCKS 


A consideration  of  the  architectural 
and  structural  availability  of 
Straub  Blocks  tor  the  varied  purposes 
of  modern  building;  their  nature, 
attributes  and  uses  as  illustrated  by 
tests,  testimony  and  performance, 
with  working  plans  and 
instructions. 


Price  $3.50 


Published  by  the 

National  Cinder  Concrete  Products  Association 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/straubcinderbuilOOnati 


Foreword 


r | ''HE  architect,  engineer  or  contractor,  in  applying  specialized  knowledge 

to  specific  problems,  is  often  confronted  by  the  necessity  for  immediate 
and  accurate  information  regarding  the  new  and  less  academically  familiar 
forms  of  building  material. 

Within  the  past  ten  years,  the  prominence  given  in  the  building  field 
to  Cinder  Concrete  Units  manufactured  under  Straub  Patents,  and  the  new 
uses  discovered  almost  daily  for  this  material,  have  made  necessary  a re- 
arrangement and  many  additions  to  the  facts  regarding  its  nature,  possibil- 
ities, and  correct  uses. 

Whatever  specific  operation  may  be  in  question,  the  general  nature  of 
Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Block  and  File  will  be  found  to  present  identical 
advantages  to  the  professional  man  engaged  in  the  planning  and  specifying 
of  material  for  new  structures. 

However,  the  application  of  this  material  in  varied  forms  of  construction 
has  brought  to  light  so  many  particular  functions,  that  this  book  has  been 
arranged  by  classifications  of  industrial,  commercial,  institutional  and 
residential  units,  with  the  hope  of  facilitating  instant  reference  by  con- 
venient form. 


3 


Table  of  Contents 


Page 

The  Composition  and  Characteristics  of  Straub  Blocks 7 

Chapter  I Residences 11 

Chapter  II  Small  Homes 33 

Chapter  III  Bungalows 45 

Chapter  IV  Garages 53 

Chapter  V Operations 63 

Chapter  VI  Schools  and  Churches 77 

Chapter  VII  Institutions 95 

Chapter  VIII  Hotels,  Theatres,  Banks,  Apartments  and  Clubs 103 

Chapter  IX  Industrial  Buildings 117 

Chapter  X Experiences 131 

Chapter  XI  Stucco  Finishes  for  Straub  Block  Houses 147 

Chapter  XII  Fire  Protection 151 

Chapter  XIII  Official  Tests 157 

Chapter  XIV  Types  and  Sizes  of  Straub  Cinder  Building  Blocks.  . . . 173 

Chapter  XV  Construction: 

Suggestions  for  Handling  and  Laying  Straub  Blocks.  . 184 

Specifications  for  Construction 189 

Chapter  XVI  Working  Plans 193 

Chapter  XVII  The  Plants  Making  Straub  Blocks 205 


5 


The  Composition  and  Characteristics  of  Straub  Blocks 

CTRAUB  Patented  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Blocks  are  a composition 
of  cinders  and  cement,  compressed  and  moulded  into  standard  shapes, 
in  standard  sizes. 

1'hese  building  units  have  nothing  in  common  with  hollow  construc- 
tion tile  or  concrete  blocks.  The  composition  is  patented  (Francis  J.  Straub, 
U.  S.  Letters  Patent  No.  1,212,840)  and  in  an  opinion  handed  down  by  the 
United  States  Court  of  Appeals,  declaring  against  an  infringement,  it  is 
interesting  to  note  the  sentence  ‘Alter  consideration  ol  the  proofs,  we  have 
reached  the  conclusion  that  Straub  made  a valuable  contribution  to  the 
building  art.’ 

I bis  contribution  includes  those  attributes  ol  lire  salety,  sound  proofing, 
a low  coefficient  of  heat  or  cold  conductivity  resulting  in  high  insulating 
value,  and  the  factors  of  strength  that  have  made  the  product  acceptable 
by  building  authorities  throughout  the  United  States. 


Products  Foundation  and  Wall  Bearing  Blocks,  Partition  file,  Brick,  Rein- 
forced Lintels,  Chimney  Blocks  and  Floor  Slab  Blocks. 


Costs  will  vary  according  to  local  conditions,  but  normally  the  saving  in 

finished  wall  construction  can  he  figured  from  25  to  40%  compared 
to  same  wall  dimensions  in  brick,  and  5 to  15%  compared  with 
clay  tile. 

Strength  Blocks  have  an  average  crushing  strength  of  900  lb.  per  sq.  in.  gross 
area,  which  is  equivalent  to  approximately  1300  lb.  per  sq.  in.,  net 
area.  The  ratio  of  unit  strength  to  wall  strength  of  Straub  blocks  is 
from  57  to  76%,  the  highest  of  any  known  masonry. 


Tests  Tests  made  by  Underwriters’  Laboratories,  Inc.,  (see  page  159  of 

report  of  tests  on  Straub  Blocks),  Bureau  of  Standards,  U.  S.  Govern- 
ment, Columbia  University,  Yale  University,  Rutgers  College. 
Johns  Hopkins  University,  Lewis  Institute,  Pittsburgh  Testing 
Laboratory,  E.  L.  Cornwell  & Co.,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Detroit  Test- 
ing Laboratory. 


Breakage 


Breakage  is  negligible  and  dumping  from  trucks  is  practiced  by  many 
plants. 


Fireproof 


No  other  masonry  material  possesses  equal  fire-resisting  and  fire- 
retardant  properties. 


Sound  1 he  same  physical  properties  causing  low  rate  of  heat  conductivity 

Proof  in  Straub  blocks  account  for  sound  retarding  quality. 


7 


Non- 
conductor 
of  Heat 
and  Cold 

Stucco 


No 

Through 

Mortar 

Joints 

No 

Furring 

Required 

Weight 
of  Wall 

Weight 

Rapid 

Laying 


Nailing 


Cutting 

Corners 

Steel 

Sash 


Lintels 


Details, 
Catalogs 
and  Data 


Straub  Block  walls  do  not  “sweat”;  are  rotproof  and  vermin- 
proof;  no  mold  forms,  and  decorations  are  never  injured  where  plaster 
has  been  applied  direct  to  exterior  walls  in  the  severest  climate.  Less 
fuel  required  to  heat;  cooler  in  summer.  Ideal  for  icehouses,  large 
refrigerators,  refrigeration  plants,  heating  ovens,  dry  kilns,  etc. 

The  rough  texture  affords  a perfect  key  for  plaster  and  stucco. 
The  same  coefficient  of  expansion  in  base  and  stucco  explains  why 
stucco  does  not  crack  and  spall  on  Straub  blocks.  Ideal  suction  and 
mechanical  bond. 

The  through  mortar  joint,  which  is  eliminated  by  the  use  of  Straub 
Block,  conducts  moisture,  heat  and  cold  through  the  wall.  The 
cinder  block  itself  is  a non-conductor,  not  depending  on  the  dead 
air  spaces  as  do  other  forms  of  hollow  masonry. 

Having  the  lowest  capillarity  and  conductivity  of  any  masonry, 
furring  and  lathing  are  not  required.  Stucco  and  plaster  are  applied 
direct  to  the  blocks;  one-third  less  plaster  required  on  account  of 
omission  of  scratch  coat  and  more  uniform  surface. 


A cubic  foot  of  completed  wall  weighs  less  than  any  known  masonry 
of  equal  strength. 

Forty  per  cent  lighter  than  standard  hollow  cement  blocks;  60% 
lighter  than  brick,  and  5%  to  10%  lighter  than  hollow  clay  tile. 

Light  weight,  uniformity,  convenient  and  small  buttering  surfaces 
compared  to  solid  units,  contribute  to  easy,  rapid  and  economical 
wall  erection.  Buttering  surfaces  larger  than  clay  tile,  therefore, 
stronger  and  more  substantial;  less  waste  of  mortar  and  time  in 
laying. 

As  good  as  wood  for  nailing;  holding  power  is  equal  to  yellow  pine. 
Nails  never  rust.  (See  Pittsburgh  Testing  Laboratory  report  on  page 
167.)  Wood  grounds  and  furring  can  be  thoroughly  secured  by 
nailing  to  the  blocks.  Pipe  hangers  and  other  supporting  mem- 
bers can  be  readily  secured  to  blocks  by  means  of  lag  screws,  expan- 
sion bolts,  etc. 

Straub  blocks  can  be  cut  to  size,  chased  and  channelled  for  pipe  and 
conduits  without  fracture. 

Grooves  are  moulded  into  jamb  blocks  to  admit  steel  window  sash. 
Two  lintels  over  an  opening  provide  this  advantage  without  cutting 
or  channelling. 


Reinforced  lintels  of  cinder  concrete  provide  all  the  advantages  of 
strength,  lightness,  nailabihty  and  damp-proofness.  For  standard 
sizes  see  page  181.  Specials  to  order. 

Each  plant  is  in  position  to  submit  details  and  give  required  informa- 
tion to  architect  or  engineer.  Address  the  nearest  plant  or  New 
York  offi  ce. 


Hr  HE  following  120  pages  of  this  book  are  devoted  to  the  visualization, 
in  some  small  degree,  of  what  has  actually  been  accomplished  during 
the  past  ten  years  with  Straub  Cinder  Blocks.  It  will  be  readily  under- 
stood that  only  a small  number  out  of  tens  ol  thousands  ol  buildings  erected 
with  this  material  can  be  shown. 

By  means  of  photographs  and  description,  an  attempt  has  been  made  to 
show  the  use  of  this  product  in  every  phase  ol  building  activity.  The  photo- 
graphs illustrate  the  widely  varying  types  of  building  in  which  the  blocks 
have  been  used,  while  the  descriptions  under  the  photographs  are  of  additional 
interest  in  that  they  reveal  the  national  scope  ol  the  Straub  Cinder  Block 
Industry. 

The  pages  toward  the  latter  part  of  the  volume  are  of  particular  interest 
to  architects  and  engineers,  in  that  they  contain  authoritative  tests,  designs 
and  sizes  of  the  block,  illustrations  of  its  proper  use,  working  plans  and  blue- 
prints. 

l he  section  devoted  to  the  experiences  ol  users  is  notable  lor  the  inclu- 
sion of  several  interesting  suggestions  which  describe  or  suggest  new  uses 
for  the  product,  and  also  for  the  fact  that  it  contains  the  opinions  of  several 
municipalities  and  nationally  known  authorities. 


9 


RESIDENCES 


11 


Straub  Block  Units  for  the  Residence 


TN  considering  materials  for  house  construction,  the  architect  seeks  con- 
stantly  a more  perfect  adaptability,  in  order  that  the  ultimate  in  a 
certain  type  ot  beauty  and  utility  may  be  achieved. 

In  this  chapter  on  residences,  practically  every  architectural  period  is 
represented,  because  Straub  Blocks  have  been  used  in  a great  many  different 
ways  tor  a great  many  different  purposes. 

The  beauty  of  design  and  effect  that  may  be  created  with  Straub  Units 
is  primarily  due  to  the  practically  infinite  adaptability  of  the  material. 
This  allows  the  architect  full  scope  for  the  realization  ot  his  ideas  and  ideals. 
It  is  a beauty  of  accuracy,  essentially  classical  in  spirit. 

Despite  the  variety  of  the  houses  shown,  in  form  and  aspect,  there  is 
one  quality  they  all  possess  in  common.  I he  comfort  enjoyed  by  their 
occupants  is  on  an  exceptionally  high  plane. 

No  one  cause  alone  contributes  to  this  result.  As  comfort  itself  is 
multiple,  so  the  reasons  for  its  realization  through  a building  material  must 
be  complex. 

However,  some  of  the  contributing  factors  are  damp-proofing,  sound- 
proofing, and  non-conducting  of  heat  and  cold.  Their  keynote,  in  every 
case,  is  a perfected  insulation. 

There  is  an  enduring  satisfaction,  to  those  who  plan  and  build,  in  creat- 
ing, from  inanimate  material,  an  environment  that  gives  a sense  of  freedom, 
and  contributes  to  the  art  of  life.  In  our  North  American  climate,  changing 
from  month  to  month,  sometimes  from  day  to  day,  there  is  real  necessity 
tor  residences  that  will  retain  an  even  temperature,  free  from  outside  climatic 
changes.  In  our  complex  and  blatant  civilization,  the  luxury  of  absolute 
privacy  because  of  sound  proof  walls  becomes  eminently  desirable. 


13 


Residence  of  Charles  Boyer,  Moorestown,  N.  J. 

All  exterior  and  interior  walls,  including  foundation,  built  of  Straub  Blocks 
Architect,  Emile  G.  Perrot,  Philadelphia  Contractor,  Wm.  Congezer  & Sons,  Inc.,  Ifaddon  Heights,  N.  J. 


Residence  of  Mr.  M.  T.  Garvin.  Lancaster.  Pa. 
Walls  of  12"  Blocks 

Architect,  M.  R.  Evans  Contractor,  Stumpf  & Son 


14 


Residence  of  Mr.  W.  I).  Bryant  at  Detroit,  Mich. 
Showing  Appearance  of  Straub  Block  House  Unstuccoed 
Architects,  Dise  and  Ditchy 
Builders,  Bryant  and  Detwiler 


A Straub  Block  House,  Unstuccoed 


^HE  residence  shown  above  reveals  the  artistic  effect  it  is  possible  to  secure  with 
Straub  Blocks  as  facing,  uncovered  by  Stucco  or  other  material. 

1 he  careful  arrangement  of  light  and  dark  blocks  gives  the  much  desired  appear- 
ance of  a toned  surface,  and  the  evidence  of  good  craftsmanship  that  such  a wall 
discloses  is  a source  of  gratification  to  owners. 

To  those  who  have  regarded  Straub  Blocks  as  an  unseen  factor  in  construction, 
the  possibilities  of  their  use  in  the  manner  shown  is  full  of  interest. 


15 


Residence  of  Col.  Thomas  Shelton,  Algonquin  Park,  Norfolk,  Va. 
House  built  of  8"  Cinder  Block  Walls.  Design  for  House  was  suggested  by 
visit  to  similar  one  in  Yorkshire,  England. 

Architect,  Bernard  B.  Spigel  Builders.  Meridith  and  Tazewell 


Exhibition  Home,  Country  Club  District,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
J.  C.  Nichols  Inv.  Co.,  Designers,  Builders  and  Owners 


16 


STRAUB  Cinlcr  ‘Building  BLOC  ICSx, 


Stone  and  Cinder  Block  Residence  for 
Mr.  George  T.  Bell,  in  Massachusetts  Park,  Washington,  I).  C. 
Architect,  James  B.  Coopee  Builders,  Metropolitan  Construction  Co. 


The  Period  Idea  Reproduced  in 
Cinder  Concrete  Stuccoed 

\I  7'HETHER  it  be  the  proud  simplicity  of  the  Georgian,  the  Columned  Colonial 
’ ' or  the  Tudor  with  its  half  timber  anti  quaint  charm,  there  is  a well  defined 
tradition  that  building  materials  must  conform  to  in  design. 

Straub  Units  do  this.  According  to  the  effect  desired,  Straub  Units,  stuccoed 
or  unstoccoed,  follow  perfectly  the  lines  and  reproduce  the  effects  the  architect 
desires. 

The  superb  residences  erected  with  this  material  are  evidences  of  this  fact, 
each  in  the  chosen  period  of  architect  and  owner. 

This  adaptability,  inherent  in  a rare  degree,  is  due  largely  to  the  fact  that 
Straub  Units  are  not  dependent  upon  fixed  dimensions,  hut  can  he  cut  to  size  with- 
out waste. 

Beauty  in  tint,  unlike  beauty  in  line,  is  largely  a question  of  personal  prefer- 
ence, and,  clad  in  the  snowy  white  or  the  varied  shadings  and  textures  of  stucco, 
or  revealed  as  its  own  sturdy  self,  the  Straub  Unit  Wall  affords  a wide  scope  for 
personal  taste  and  for  charming  decorative  effect. 

It  other  materials  are  desired  to  produce  given  effects,  they  may  he  used  readily 
with  Straub  Units. 


17 


BLOCKS 


A U B (finder  LDuiLdin.Q 


Residence  at  College  Heights,  Allentown,  Pa. 

Built  of  Straub  Blocks,  Stuccoed 

Architect,  Jacoby  and  Everett,  Allentown,  Pa.  Builder,  J.  II.  Cassone,  Allentown,  Pa. 


Residence  of  Charles  M.  Clarke,  Sewickly,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 


us 


Residence  of  Mr.  Albert  Wohlsen,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

Walls  of  12"  Blocks 

Architect,  M.  R.  Evans  Builder,  Herman  Wohlsen 


Builder,  Wm.  P.  Bacher 


-S  T KA  U B Cinder  ‘Buildincj 


BLOCLS 


Residence  of  Dr.  Carl  Vofthlin,  Washington,  D.  C 


Architect.  Kodier  & Keindsir 


Contractor,  Carl  W.  Markham 


Lancaster  Gun  Club,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Built  by  James  P.  Brenneman 

20 


S T RA  li  B (finder  ^Building  BLOCKS 


The  Model  House  of  the  Detroit  News 


and  the  Original  of  400  Replicas 


The  house  shown  above  was  designed  by  a committee  ot  Detroit  Architects 
appointed  by  the  Michigan  Chapter  ot  the  American  Institute  ot  Architects. 

It  was  erected  under  the  auspices  ot  the  Detroit  News,  as  the  central  factor  in 
their  “Better  Homes  Campaign,”  organized  by  Major  Charles  D.  Kelley,  ot  the 
News’  homebuilding  department. 

The  successful  bidder  for  the  construction  of  the  model  house  was  required  to 
erect  at  least  twenty  replicas  tor  private  ownership,  should  that  many  he  required, 
at  the  same  price  as  the  original. 

Instead  of  the  twenty  houses  hoped  tor,  the  model  house  inspired  orders  for 
nearly  four  hundred  houses  from  the  public. 

I he  half  timbering  and  interior  trim  are  nailed  directly  to  the  Straub  Block 
Walls,  saving  considerably  in  cost  of  construction.  I he  exterior  walls,  con- 
structed entirely  ot  Straub  Blocks  from  foundation  to  roof,  cost  only  5f’(  more 
than  it  built  of  frame. 

1 h is  house  is  now  the  residence  of  Bert  Thomas,  creator  ot  “Mr.  Straphanger” 
and  cartoonist  of  the  Detroit  News. 


21 


BLOCL 


Completed  Residence  of  E.  F.  Williams 
District  Sales  Manager,  Alpha  Portland  Cement  Company,  Easton,  Pa. 


Residence  of  E.  P.  Williams,  under  construction 
See  his  testimonial  letter,  page  1.M 

?2 


Residence  of  Mr.  Moore,  Jr.,  West  Collingswood,  N.  J. 
Architect  and  Builder,  David  E.  Oakes 


Residence  of  Joseph  I51.  Breneman,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

8"  Back-up  for  stone  facing,  with  Stucco  on  blocks  from  2nd  floor  to  roof 
Architect,  C.  Emlen  Urban  Contractor,  Christian  Lichty 


23 


STRAUB  Cinder  ‘BuiUinj  BLOCHS 


Residence  of  Chas.  Stroh,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Outside  Walls  of  Straub  Blocks,  veneered  with  blue  limestone  of  different  thicknesses.  Three  thicknesses  of  blocks 
(6",  8",  12"  being  used  to  properly  bond  the  block  and  stone  and  also  to  form  straight  walls  inside. 
Plaster  applied  directly  to  the  blocks. 

Architect,  Clayton  J.  Lappley,  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Contractor,  W.  S.  Miller  & Son,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 


Residence  of  Walter  Bauers  at  Springfield,  Ohio 
Exterior  walls  of  Straub  Blocks  with  chimneys  of  cinder  brick 


24 


S T RAU  B Cinder  c liuiUin ,q_  B L O C K-  S 


Country  Club  at  Springfield,  Ohio 


View  of  W.  F.  Schluderberg  residence,  Guilford,  Baltimore,  Md. 

(Constructed  of  Straub  Cinder  Building  Blocks 
Architect,  A.  C.  Leach 


General  Contractor,  A.  Schratko 

25 


S T KA  U B (finder  building  B L Q C K.S 


Residence  of  Clyde  Barrett,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Walls  of  8"  Straub  Block 

Architect,  Leander  McCord,  Rochester,  N.  Y.  Contractor,  August  Vondram,  Webster,  N.  Y. 


Residence  at  Ventnor,  Atlantic  City,  N.  J. 
Built  of  Straub  Blocks,  Stuccoed 


26 


Residence  of  Eugene  Van  Voorhis,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Walls  of  Straub  Blocks,  Stuccoed 

Architect,  Leander  McCord,  Rochester,  N.  Y.  Contractor,  August  Vondram,  Webster,  N.  Y. 


Residence  of  II.  R.  Kahle,  New  Kensington,  Pa. 
Stucco  applied  direct  to  exterior  of  Straub  Block  Walls 
Architect,  Enos  Cooke 


27 


S T HA  U B (finder  cj}uilding  B L Q C K-,  S 


Night  View  of  the  Electric  Home,  Springfield,  Ohio 


28 


6 T K A U B QWer  VuiMuw  BLOCKS 


La t robe  Country  Club 

Architects,  Bartholomew  & Smith,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 


S T R_  A U B (finder  ''Building 


BLOCKS 


30 


(finder  ''Bu.lLl 


o 


Residence  of  Mr.  Grove  Locher,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
8"  Straub  Block  Walls,  Stuccoed 
Builder,  A.  C.  Sheetz,  E.  Petersburg,  Pa. 


Residence  of  Mr.  Alfred  Jones,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Walls  of  12'  and  8"  Straub  Cinder  Blocks 

Vrchitect,  Henry  Boettcher,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Contractor,  Herman  Wohlsen 


Residence  of  Harry  Dorwart,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
8"  Straub  Block  Walls,  Stuccoed 

Architect,  Jno.  B.  Hannon,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Builder,  Rudy  Herr,  Lancaster,  Pa. 


31 


SMALL  HOMES 


(Mf  MH  i '"f 

A4#  Ji 

"Am 


/ ■ 


& a ; 


A 


33 


Duil 


The  Problem  of  the  Small  House,  and  an  Answer 

TN  the  \rchitectural  Renaissance  through  which  America  is  passing,  the 
small  house  has  hitherto  played  a minor  part. 

The  problems  to  be  met  before  this  condition  can  be  changed  are 
difficult  ones.  ( )!  these  difficulties,  probably  the  most  unanswerable  is  the 
usual  lack  of  sufficient  capital  to  build  well  and  permanently  at  the  prevail- 
ing high  cost  of  material  and  labor,  and  the  modernized  nomad  spirit  that 
makes  the  house  a less  permanent  factor  in  the  lives  of  its  occupants  than 
it  has  ever  been  in  the  history  of  our  civilization. 

High  costs,  standardized  houses,  and  the  spirit  of  change  all  inter  act. 
1 he  typical  small  house  is  comfortable,  even  equipped  with  luxuries. 
Generally  it  has  no  architecture  and  no  meaning.  Thousands  of  houses, 
with  no  differences  in  construction,  equipment  or  furnishing,  present  thous- 
ands of  families  with  no  inducement  to  remain  living  in  them.  They  can 
obtain  practically  the  same  house  elsewhere,  wherever  convenience  calls. 

In  calling  the  attention  of  the  Architect  to  a material  that  is  flexible 
to  every  architectural  requirement,  inexpensive  enough  in  itself  to  lower 
construction  costs  considerably,  and  possessing  the  almost  revolutionary 
larger  unit  that  shortens  labor  time  and  reduces  labor  cost  to  a fraction, 
there  is  the  sincere  belief  that  undesirable  modern  conditions  in  the  con- 
struction of  small  homes  will  yield  to  the  counteracting  influence  of  the 
possibilities  presented  by  Straub  Blocks. 

A superior,  permanently  desirable,  small  house,  conforming  accurately 
to  any  architectural  design,  and  built  of  Straub  Blocks  with  the  advice  and 
assistance  of  an  architect,  for  the  special  requirements  of  an  owner,  w ill  cost 
no  more  than  a stereotyped  dwelling  constructed  of  casual  materials,  put 
up  merely  to  sell. 

'1  -A  (t ) 


STRAUB  Qincier  'Building  BLOCKS 


Houses  at  Ventnor,  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey,  built  of  Straub  Block! 
artistically  combined  with  other  materials 


Architect,  S.  G.  Dobbins 
Brick  Mason  Contractors, 


Builders,  Johnson  & Johnson 
l nit  Construction  Company,  Atlantic  City,  N.  J • 


Residence  of  James  T.  Cassidy,  Gloucester  City,  N.  J. 
Contractor  and  Builder,  P.  A.  Stewart,  Gloucester  City,  N.  J. 

36 


BLOCKS 


S T R,  A U B (finder  ''fluildin  j 


Residence  of  Mr.  Herbert  N.  Moffett,  Merchantville,  N.  J. 

Designed  and  built  according  to  Mr.  Moffett’s  plans,  by  W.  (i.  Cole,  Architect 


Home  on  State  Street,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

Walls  of  8"  Blocks 

Architect,  Henry  Y.  Shaub  Contractor,  Walter  Zook 


37 


S T RA  U B Cinder  building  B L Q C K.  S 


^5. 


Residence  on  VVrightsville  Pike 
York,  Pa. 


The  Home  of  an  Architect 
Residence  of  Paul  A.  Bartholomew,  Greensburg,  Pa 
Designed  anti  built  hv  Mr.  Bartholomew 


Residence  of  T.  I*.  Jamison,  Greensburft,  Pa. 

Architect,  John  I).  Bott  Contractors,  Greensbur£  Building  Co. 


Residence  erected  by  Edward  Diebert,  Haddon  Heights,  N.  J. 


39 


S T KA  U B Cinder  ‘Building  BLOC1CS 


Residence  of  Mr.  George  L.  H.  Dommcll,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

Stone  Work  Backed  up  With  (>'  Blocks 
Architect,  Charles  Johnson  Contractor,  George  L II.  Dommcll 


\ 


Residence  of  Mr.  Henry  V.  Shauh.  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Foundation  of  12"  Blocks,  Stone  Work  hacked  up  with  block 
Architect,  Henry  Y.  Shauh  Contractor,  Walter  Zook 


■40 


S T HA  U 5 Cinder  '■j)uildinq_B  L O C KL  S 


Residence  and  Garage  of  Mr.  William  Griffiths,  Haddon  Heights,  N.  J. 
Designed  and  Erected  by  Congezer  & Son,  Inc. 


Residence  of  E.  S.  Brinkley,  Norfolk,  Va. 
Constructed  of  8"  Straub  Blocks 
Architect,  Bernard  B.  Spigel  Builder,  C.  Z.  Nugent 


41 


S T KA  U B Cinder  ‘Building  B L Q C ICS- 


Spanish  Type  Residence,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Architect,  Miss  A.  K.  Evans  Guilders,  R.  L.  Falkenburg  &.  (io. 


Part  of  operation  including  16  houses  at  Chestnut  Hill,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Owners,  Smullen  & Barry 

Builders,  St.  Martin’s  Home  Co.,  Pringle  Borthwick 

42 


BLOCLS 


S T IA  A U B (finder  ''Building 


Residence  of  Mr.  C.  F.  Humphreys,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Wails  of  8"  Blocks  • 

Contractor,  Ivan  Rohrer 


Residence  at  York,  Pa.,  Constructed  Entirely  of  Straub  Blocks 


43 


BUNGALOWS 


Straub  Block  Units  for  Bungalows 


K bungalows  scattered  throughout  the  country  attest  the  success 
with  which  Straub  Block  Units  have  been  used  in  this  type  of 
structure. 

Indeed,  it  was  the  bungalow  that  was  largely  responsible  for  the  appre- 
ciation of  this  material  shared  by  hundreds  of  builders  and  house  owners. 
It  was,  perhaps,  natural  enough  that  a material  which  ten  years  ago  was 
new  to  America  should  have  been  used  and  tested  upon  smaller  con- 
struction. 

In  construction  possibilities  and  in  the  protection  afforded  occupants, 
Straub  Blocks  are  as  ideally  suited  to  this  scale  of  building  as  they  are  to 
the  larger  houses  referred  to  in  Chapter  1 of  this  book. 


47 


S T IAA  U B (finder  LBuildin_q  B L O C LS' 


Residence  of  Dr.  Laffoon,  Kansas  City,  Missouri 
Architect,  George  W.  Swehlc 


Resilience  of  Dr.  L.  W.  Wright,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Foundations  and  all  Outside  Walls  of  Straub  Blocks,  Stuccoed.  Inside  Plaster  Applied  Direct  to  the  Blocks 
Contractor,  John  P.  Croli,  Steelton,  Pa.  Architect,  Mr.  Frank  Fahenstock 


4 S 


Residence  of  E.  B.  Thomas,  Warren,  Ohio 


Residence  of  Oscar  Funk,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Architect,  Frank  Everts  Contractor,  A.  M.  Bowman 


49 


s 


BLOCKS 


/O’ 


building 


Bungalow  of  Mr.  Frank  J.  Hineline,  Haddonfield,  N.  J. 

General  Contractor,  Frederick  Lange,  Audubon,  N.  J.  Exterior  Walls  of  Straub  Blocks 


SO 


(finder 


BLOCLS 


Residence  of  M.  S.  Falck,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Walls  of  (»"  Blocks  Veneered  with  Stone 
Con  tractor,  James  Smith  Gall 


Residence  at  Fairview,  N.  J. 
Builder,  M.  Petra 


51 


G A K A G E S 


}\J$b  ^ 


\¥<\PS- 


A 


>5la£^-— - 

=%'7—  jia  *«  ^ 


'•<>  ; 'f'£^  .,f 


i'1?  .-A. 

t /■« — v 


53 


The  Garage  as  an  Extension  of  the  House 


W HEN  the  garage  is  built  as  a projection  of  the  house,  following  the 
same  general  tendencies  in  type  of  architecture,  and  in  complete 
accord  with  the  larger  unit,  Straub  Block  construction  adds  an  element  ol 
certainty  to  the  protection  of  both  house  and  garage  against  hre. 

The  highly  combustible  properties  ot  automobile  fuel  have  rendered  it 
a very  dangerous  proceeding  to  provide  quarters  for  both  the  household  and 
the  automobile  at  such  close  proximity.  The  use  of  Straub  Units  eliminates 
this  danger  entirely,  its  fire-resistant  nature  making  possible  perfect  safety, 
low  insurance  rates,  and  the  architectural  unity  and  personal  convenience 
such  construction  affords. 

Commercial  garages  are  utilizing  Straub  Block  Units,  and  in  many 
cases  providing  individual  compartments  for  each  car,  built  of  4"  Straub 
Block  Units.  Fhe  saving  in  cost  of  material  and  labor  is  as  striking  a fact 
in  this  relation  as  is  the  absolute  protection  such  walls  afford  to  the  property 
of  garage  patrons. 


s 


B Cinder  building  BLOCKS 


f 


Studebaker  Distributing  Agency  at  Norfolk,  Va. 

Walls  and  Interior  Partitions  of  8"  Cinder  Blocks 
Architect,  Charles  J.  Cabrow  Builder,  E.  E.  Weddle  & Co. 


Jordan  Motor  Company’s  Sales  and  Service  Station,  Haddonfield,  N.  J. 

Plant  designed  by  Thomas  Stevens,  Architect,  Camden,  N.  J. 

General  Contractor,  James  W.  Draper  Brick  Mason  Contractor,  Edwin  Blizzard 


56 


Gasoline  Filling  Station,  Camden,  N.  J. 
Constructed  of  Straub  Cinder  Building  Blocks 


Interior  of  Mechanical  Building,  Garage  Section 
Armstrong  Cork  Co.,  Camden,  N.  J. 


57 


B (finder  ''Building  B L O C K-  S 


Lawrence  Garage,  Size,  60'  x 227',  Reading.  Pa. 
Owner,  Dr.  Lawrence,  Reading,  Pa. 
Contractor,  Harry  Freyberger 
Photograph  shows  inside  of  Straub  Block  Walls 


Exterior  view  of  Lawrence  Garage,  Reading,  Pa.,  shown  above 


58 


Garaife  of  L.  II.  Cooke,  Sprinftfiehl  . Ohio 


Garage  at  York,  Pa. 

Dimensions,  50'  x 90'.  Constructed  of  Straub  blocks  at  a low  cost 

59 


S T RA  U B Qindcr  cj)uildLing  B L Q C LS 


Gasoline  Filling  Station  at  Erie,  Pa. 
Constructed  of  8"  Straub  Cinder  Building  Blocks 


Mayer’s  Auto  Station,  Rochester,  N.  V. 
Planned  and  built  by  the  owner  of  8"  Straub  Blocks 


60 


Government  Garage,  Kansas  City,  Missouri 

Dimensions — 2 stories  on  rear  end.  Main  floor,  2H2  ft.  by  216  ft.  Total  floor  space  65,000  sq.  ft. 


Government  Garage,  Kansas  City,  Missouri 
Outside  view.  Interior  of  same  building  shown  above 


61 


OPERATIONS 


Walls  and  the  House 


WALL  strengthening  and  wall  decoration  began  with  the  race.  Wall- 
insulation  is  a comparatively  new  discovery.  Straub  Units,  while 
introducing  a new  element  into  the  philosophy  of  construction,  take  no 
emphasis  from  the  two  earlier  qualities. 

On  the  contrary,  the  architect  will  find  in  Straub  Block  Units  a material 
that,  in  average  crushing  strength,  is  900  lbs.  per  square  inch  gross  area 
(equivalent  to  approximately  1300  lbs.  per  inch  net  area).  The  ratio  of  unit 
strength  to  wall  strength  is  the  highest  of  any  known  masonry,  ranging 
from  57%  to  76%. 

As  for  decorative  possibilities,  the  Straub  Unit  Wall  offers  a surface 
that  will  take  nails  direct.  Molding  and  all  wood  trim  may  be  nailed  direct 
to  the  wall  itself.  The  holding  power  of  nails  driven  into  the  Straub  Block 
Units  increase’s  with  the  duration  of  time  the  nail  is  imbedded.  Thus  a 20d 
Old  Nail  driven  \ l4"  deep  into  a Straub  Unit,  and  left  there  for  five  years, 
required  a load  ot  650  lbs.  to  draw,  compared  with  a 300  lb.  load  immedi- 
ately alter  nailing. 

Leaving  aside  for  the  moment  the  question  of  saving  in  strips  and  lath- 
ing, the  Straub  Unit  Wall  reveals  new  possibilities,  through  its  freedom  from 
super— imposed  materials,  tor  artistic  possibilities  which  have  never  before 
been  afforded  a medium  of  expression. 

A new  possibility,  too,  is  afforded  in  speed  of  construction.  The  Straub 
Block  Unit  is  lighter  and  larger,  thus  making  possible  a quicker  finish  with 
less  labor  on  construction. 

Economies  that  are  impossible  with  other  construction  materials  are 
the  rule  with  Straub  Block  Units.  The  saving  in  labor,  the  saving  in  time, 
the  elimination  ot  breakage  loss,  make  it  possible  to  cut  on  practically  every 
item  of  construction  cost. 

Yet  these  economies  go  hand  in  hand  with  value,  and  the  finished 
operation  is  a source  ot  pride,  as  well  as  of  profit,  to  the  builder. 


BLOCLS 


Row  of  14  houses  for  Merit  Underwear  Co.,  Shoemakersville,  Pa. 
Builder,  T.  J.  Coyle 


Row  of  14  houses  shown  above,  under  construction,  36,000  Blocks  used  in  all  walls,  including 
8"  foundation,  for  this  operation 


66 


BLOCKS 


r i\  U B (finder  du.il cLino 


Finished  view  of  operation  below 
70,000  Blocks  used  in  this  operation 


Operation  at  Reading,  Pa.— From  foundation  to  roof,  this  operation  is  constructed  of  Straub  Blocks. 
4"  Brick  Veneering  on  front  walls  only. 

D.  F.  Haupt,  Designer,  Builder  and  owner 

67 


DU 


Ida 


-d_ 


B L O 


16  Houses  in  Chestnut  Hill,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Built  of  Straub  Cinder  Building  Blocks 
Owners,  Smullen  & Barry 


Operation  at  Reading,  Pa. 

1<>8  residences  were  erected  during  1924  by  Mr.  Sherman,  in  which  320,000  Straub  Blocks  were  used 

from  foundations  to  roof 


Finished  View  of  Operation  Shown  Above 
Straub  Cinder  Building  Blocks  used  with  stone  facing  on  foundation  walls 
Architect,  H.  G.  Mohn  Builder,  .Samuel  M.  Sherman 


69 


Terrace  of  x Residences  at  Englewood,  N.  J. 

Walls  of  8"  Straub  Blocks.  Plastered  and  Stuccoed  Direct — No  Furring 
Architects.  Hayes  & Iloadley  Builder,  R.  II.  Mackenzie 


! — - — J 

1 V-  i 

1 

1 * 3 

. 1 A 

PHI 

8 Family  Apartments  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Owner  and  Builder,  Joseph  Lockhart 
Constructed  of  Straub  Blocks,  Stuccoed 

70 


Terrace  of  Ten  Houses  at  Edfte  water,  N.  J. 

10,000  Straub  Blocks  were  used  in  this  operation.  All  party  walls  from  cellar  to  roof  constructed  of  8"  blocks 

Owner,  David  Rubin 

Contractor,  A.  II.  Lueders,  Grantwood,  N.  J. 


Be£innin£  of  larfte  operation,  dwelling  houses  at  Camden,  N.  J. 
Owner  and  Builder,  John  Ma£innis,  Camden,  N.  J. 


71 


HA  U B (finder  ‘Building  B L O C K.8 


Residence  Operation  in  Springfield,  Ohio 

Exterior  Walls  of  Straub  Blocks,  Chimneys  of  Cinder  Brick,  Lintels  of  Cinder  Concrete 


THE  WIDENING  SEASONS 

WHERE  time  is  a factor,  as  it  generally  is  with  large  operations,  the  ability  to 
shorten  by  weeks  the  duration  of  building  takes  on  an  importance  hard  to 
exaggerate. 

Nor  is  this  feature  confined  to  cost  alone.  The  possibilities  of  starting  work 
late  in  the  Autumn  and  finishing  before  the  snow  Hies  give  a greater  liberty  of  action 
and  actually  increase  the  duration  of  the  building  season. 

This  latter  fact  seems  highly  significant,  since  it  limits  more  definitely  the  cur- 
tailment of  seasonal  building  activity,  and  brings  the  periods  of  building  activity 
closer  together  across  a narrowed  winter. 


Residence  Operation  of  George  L).  Bacon,  York,  Pa. 
All  Walls  Constructed  of  Straub  Cinder  Building  Blocks 


72 


Residence  forming  part  of  Indian  Creek  Development,  Overbrook,  Philadelphia 
W.  W.  Potter,  Architect  and  Owner 


Residences  on  Dauphin  Street,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

Walls  of  8"  Blocks 

Architect,  Henry  Y.  Shaub  Contractor,  Wm.  Bentz 


73 


Foundation  for  Hampton  Heights  Development  Co. 

Builder,  Samuel  M.  Sherman,  Reading,  Pa. 

This  entire  operation  comprises  72  houses,  all  constructed  of  Straub  Blocks 


Straub  Block  Foundation  for  the  Residence  of  Mrs.  M.  Phillips,  Englewood,  N.  J. 
Architect  and  Contractor,  Charles  H.  Grasing,  Englewood,  N.  J.  Mason,  Louis  Argonica 


74 


Foundation  for  Residence  of  Mr.  Alfred  Jones,  Lancaster,  Pa. 


A Foundation  that  adds  a New  Floor 

npHE  old  word  “cellar”,  so  nearly  obsolete  in  America,  soon  bids  fair  to  be  not 
merely  unspoken,  but  non-existent. 

Straub  Block  Units  take  what  was  once  conceived  as  a damp,  chilly  and  unliv- 
able  place,  used  only  for  storing,  and  make  it  dry,  comfortable  and  livable.  Founda- 
tions of  Straub  Units  add  a new  floor  to  the  house. 

The  architectural  plan  is  changing  already  in  conformity  with  this  new  possibil- 
ity. The  room  that  had  to  be  given  up  because  of  lack  of  space,  the  billiard  room, 
or  smoking  room,  or  dream  room  of  any  sort  that  was  forced  out  of  the  plan  some 
\ ears  ago,  finds  a place  in  the  new  cellar-less  home  today. 

Dry  walls,  dry  floor,  healthful  atmosphere,  all  are  made  possible  by  the  use  of 
Straub  B1  ock  Units  for  foundation  walls.  Not  only  are  these  conditions  made 
possible,  but  they  are  rendered  permanent.  Year  after  year  a basement  flanked 
with  Straub  Units  remains  suitable  for  habitation,  a new  floor  in  the  bouse. 


75 


SCHOOLS  tvCHURCHES 


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77 


Physical  Environment  as  a Vital  Factor 


PHYSICAL  environment  is  as  vital  a factor  in  the  school  as  in  the  home. 
A A school  that  is  not  fireproof  is  a potential  crime  against  the  com- 

munity in  which  it  is  located.  A school  that  is  full  of  distractions  and  out- 
side noises  is  a serious  drawback  to  the  present  knowledge  and  future  oppor- 
tunity of  its  pupils.  A school  subject  to  sudden  temperature  changes  is  a 
menace  to  health. 

To  the  modern  ideal  of  what  a school  should  be,  Straub  Blocks  have 
contributed  the  physical  means  of  realization.  This  material  is  fireproof, 
sound  proof,  and  heat  or  cold  proof.  The  health,  comfort  and  safety  of 
students  are  insured  by  walls  of  Straub  Block. 

A single  building  material,  combining  in  itself  all  of  these  qualities,  is 
invaluable  for  construction  work  of  this  nature.  Yet  Straub  Blocks  are 
low  in  first  cost,  and  their  use  makes  possible  a saving  in  labor  amounting 
to  many  thousands  of  dollars. 


Those  who  build  churches,  and  those  who  pay  for  their  building,  desire 
to  incorporate  into  the  physical  structure  that  permanence  of  character 
which  symbolizes  the  eternal  nature  of  their  spiritual  mission. 

Churches  are  built  to  endure.  The  planning,  the  building,  and  the 
materials  used  for  churches  must  be  worthy  beyond  question. 

In  this  type  of  construction,  the  sterling  worth  of  Straub  Blocks,  no 
less  than  their  almost  infinite  adaptability  to  varying  building  requirements, 
assures  them  a consideration  based  on  proven  endurance  and  permanent 
value. 


S T fC  A U B (finder  *2 uildin g BLOC  K_  S 


Wm.  Penn  High  School,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Inside  load  bearing  walls  constructed  of  Straub  Blocks 
\rchitect,  CL  Howard  Lloyd,  Telegraph  Building,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 
Contractor,  W.  S.  Shoemaker  & Son,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 


High  School  at  Palmerton,  Pa. 

Back-up  and  all  Interior  Walls  of  Straub  Cinder  Blocks 
Architect,  Mr.  William  H.  Lee,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


SO 


tv 


First  Church  of  Christ  Scientist,  Springfield,  Ohio 
Architect,  S.  S.  Be  man,  Chicago 

Superstructure  cream  face  brick  veneer,  backed  up  with  Straub  Cinder  Block.  Interior 
plaster  applied  direct  to  face  of  Idock.  This  church  enjoys  the  lowest  lire  insurance  rate 
of  any  church  in  Springfield. 


School  at  North  Arlington,  N.  J. 

Inside  and  outside  walls  of  Straub  Block,  outside  walls  veneered 

Contractor,  F.  and  C.  Haerter  Go.,  West  New  \orK,  N.  J. 


Architect,  J.  F.  Osborne,  North  Arlington,  N.  .1 . 


81 


-s 


B Cinder  ‘Build 


BLOCKS 


Public  School,  Rochelle  Park,  N.  J. 

Architect,  Ralph  Evans  llacker.  Palisade,  N.  J.  General  Contractor,  Faber  Construction  Co.,  Hackensack,  N.  J. 
Basement  Walls  of  12"  Straub  Block.  Outer  Walls  of  8"  Straub  Block  on  Brick  Veneer 


Grade  School  addition.  Upper  Ridgewood,  N.  J. 

12,000  Straub  Blocks  used,  all  partitions  and  walls  being  of  this  material.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the 
cubic  contents  of  the  addition,  built  of  Straub  Block,  are  four  times  that  of  the  original  clay  tile  building, 
yet  the  coal  used  during  the  first  winter  in  which  the  addition  was  in  use  totaled  only  twice  the  amount  of 
fuel  required  to  heat  the  original  building. 


82 


Interior  view  of  First  M.  E.  Church,  Haddon  Heights,  N.  J.,  in  course  of  construction 
Architects,  Simon  & Simon,  Philadelphia  General  Contractors,  F.  V.  Warren  & Co.,  Philadelphia 


Upper  Ridgewood  School,  Ridgewood,  N.  J. 

View  of  Auditorium.  The  hearing  walls  illustrated,  12  inches  in  thickness,  carry  the  proscenium  arch  and 
roof  load.  These  walls,  as  well  as  all  exterior  and  partition  walls  in  the  school  building,  are  of  Straub  Cinder 
Blocks.  13,000  blocks  used  in  operation. 

Architect,  Chas  Granville  Jones  Contractors,  Federal  Building  Corporation 

83 


BLOCKS 


FC.  A U B (finder  ^Building 


J.  Fithian  Tatem  School,  Camden,  N.  J. 


« 


Collingswood  Lutheran  Church 
Park  Avenue  and  Dill  Street,  Collingswood,  N.  J. 

Brick  and  Stone.  Exterior  backed  up  with  8"  block,  interior  part  of  8"  block. 
Architect,  George  T.  Baum,  1511  Arch  St.,  Philadelphia 
General  Contractor,  E.  J.  Kreitzburg,  1333  Arch  St.,  Philadelphia 

84 


Brooklawn  School,  Camden,  N.  J. 

Outside  walls  constructed  of  1 2"  and  8"  Straub  Cinder  Blocks,  veneered  with  4"  of  brick.  All  partition  walls 
of  S"  Straub  Cinder  Block. 

Architect,  A.  .1.  Voegtlin,  Camden,  N.  J.  Contractor,  John  L.  Coneys,  Philadelphia 


Interior  of  Rutherford,  N.  J.,  Congregational  Church 

85 


BLOCK.5 


S T HA  U B Cinder  ‘Building 


Duncannon  School,  Duncannon,  Pa. 

Outside  walls  constructed  of  Straub  Blocks  veneered  with  4 inches  of  clay  brick.  Inside  load-bearing  walls 

of  Straub  Block.  Plaster  applied  direct. 

Architect,  Lawrie  & Green,  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Contractor,  H.  W.  Holtzman,  Millersburg,  Pa. 


Foundations  for  High  School,  Glen  Ridge,  N.  J. 

30,000  Straub  Blocksfor  interior  walls  and  back-up.  8"  Straub  Block  bearing  walls  were  used  throughout  the  interior 
Architect,  Frank  C.  Goodwillie.  New  York  City  Contractor,  Mark  C.  Fredennick 

86 


Centralized  School  Building,  Neffsville,  Pa. 

Walls  constructed  of  8"  Cinder  Blocks  veneered  with  4"  of  brick 
Architect,  Henry  Y.  Schaub 


Christian  Science  Church,  Lancaster,  Pa. 


87 


S T KA  U B (finder  '"Building 


BLOCL8 


Mickle  School,  Camden,  N.  J. 

S'  Straub  Block  have  been  used  for  back-up  throughout,  with  12"  and  4"  Straub  Block  and  Cinder  Brick  for 

inside  partitions. 

Architects,  Edwards  & Green,  Camden,  N.  J. 


Westport  Junior  High  School,  Kansas  City,  Missouri 
5 stories.  Straub  Block  back-up 


,NS 


Grade  School  Addition,  Upper  Ridgewood,  N.  J. 

Architect,  ('.has.  Granville  Jones,  New  York  City  Contractors,  Federal  Construction  Company.  Newark,  N.  J. 


Catholic  School  in  course  of  construction  at  Allentown,  Pa. 
Strauh  Blocks  used  for  hack-up  and  partition  walls 
Builders,  VVm.  H.  Gangewere  & Co. 

89 


BLOCK. 


Rutherford  Congregational  Church,  Rutherford,  N.  J. 

Architect,  Dudley  S.  Van  Antwerp  Contractor,  Dan.sen  Construction  Company,  Lodi,  N.  J. 

12,000  Straub  Blocks — 12",  8",  and  4",  used  in  operation 

Note  details  of  Arches  and  Oriel  Windows  for  adaptability  of  units.  Concentrated  loads  on  both  Monolithic  and 
Straub  Block  Piers.  The  Walls  to  be  Stuccoed  and  Plastered  direct  without  furring 


View' of  the  Mount  Virgin  Roman  Catholic  Church,  in  process  of  erection  at  Garfield,  N.  J.  Exterior  Walls  varying  from 
two  feet  to  twelve  inches  of  Straub  Block,  with  four-inch  brick  veneer.  Interior  partitions  throughout  of  Straub  Block. 
Architect,  John  J.  Baldino,  Garfield,  N.  J.  Mason  Contractors,  Pinto  & Perraggnia 


90 


] iuutitm* 


Another  view  of  High  School  at  Palmerton,  Pa. 
Architect,  Mr.  William  II.  Lee,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


91 


BLOCKS 


S T RA  U B (finder  '"Building 


Christ  Lutheran  Church,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

The  outside  walls  of  the  church  are  constructed  of  Straub  Blocks  veneered  with  blue  limestone  of  varying  sizes. 
To  properly  bond  the  block  and  stone  and  to  form  straight  walls  inside  and  outside,  6"  8"  and  12"  blocks  were  used. 
The  inside  plaster  was  applied  direct  to  the  block. 

Architect,  Ritcher  & Eiler,  Reading,  Pa.  Supervising  Architect,  W.  W.  YVitman,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Contractor,  Charles  W.  Strayer,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 


92 


St.  Peter's  School,  Steelton,  Pa. 

Outside  walls  are  of  Straub  Blocks  veneered  with  four  inches  of  clay  brick.  Straub  Block  used  for  inside  load 
bearing  walls.  Inside  plaster  applied  directly  to  blocks  of  outside  walls. 

Architect,  Johnson  & Starr,  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Contractor,  John  P.  ( roll,  Steelton,  Pa 


93 


INSTITUTIONS 


i,."- 


95 


Straub  Block  Units  for  Institutions 

NOTWITHSTANDING  that  collective  institutions  have  their  special 
^ ^ purposes  and  their  particular  needs,  and  with  due  consideration  of  the 
fact  that  a hospital  is  laid  out  upon  a plan  different  from  that  used  for  a 
bungalow,  the  vital  difference  in  the  purpose  of  any  institution,  as  con- 
trasted with  any  residence,  is  quantitative. 

'The  one  is  built  for  many,  the  other  for  few.  The  advantages  of  one 
are  exclusive;  of  the  other  inclusive.  A building  construction  that  mini- 
mizes annoyance  on  a small  scale  for  one,  minimizes  it  on  a large  scale 
for  the  other,  and  a relatively  large  saving  in  construction  with  the  bungalow 
becomes  a tremendous  saving  with  the  hospital . 

Straub  Block  Units  are  equally  appropriate  for  large  and  small  build- 
ing operations,  but  in  the  large  operation  the  saving  in  cost  is  of  vital 
importance. 


The  Taxpayers,  the  Private  Donors  and  the 
Board  of  Directors 

UUH  ETHER  the  contributing  sources  are  many  or  few,  the  institution, 
* * whether  it  be  school  or  hospital,  club  or  hotel,  or  place  of  public 
gathering,  must  satisfy  these  imperative  requirements;  it  must  be  perma- 
nent, it  must  possess  dignity  and  it  must  be  economical. 

The  permanence  and  dignity  are  of  equal  importance  to  trustees  and 
architects.  An  institution  is  a monument  to  the  men  who  designed  and 
founded  it. 

The  economy,  also,  is  of  importance  to  everyone,  but  is  the  architects’ 
direct  responsibility,  for  many  can  pass  upon  a finished  building  but  few 
are  able  to  assign  what  its  cost  should  be. 

Straub  Block  Units  work  with  the  architect  and  engineer  in  effecting 
big  economies.  The  greater  part,  perhaps,  is  the  utter  elimination  of  un- 
necessary and  avoidable  expense. 

Eor  Straub  Block  Units  are  low  in  material  cost,  first  of  all.  They 
start  with  economy.  Then  the  breakage  loss  is  practically  eliminated.  On 
this  point  the  Underwriters’  Laboratories  Report  comments:  “In  a half 
carload  shipment  of  the  blocks  from  Pennsylvania  to  a Chicago  freight 
house  and  thence  by  truck  to  the  Laboratories,  the  amount  of  damage  to 
the  block  was  negligible.” 

The  labor  cost,  always  an  item  of  primary  concern,  is  put  upon  a sound 
basis.  Since  an  8"  x 8"  x 16"  block  unit,  weighing  only  32  pounds,  is 
equivalent  in  cubic  volume  to  12  common  brick  weighing  72  pounds,  the 
light,  well  balanced  Straub  Units  are  erected  more  speedily,  and  the  cutting 
of  man  hours  is  a matter  for  mathematical  computation. 


97 


Addition  to  St.  Joseph’s  Hospital,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Back-up  and  Inside  Walls  of  Straub  Blocks 


Interior  view  of  addition  to  St.  Joseph’s  Hospital,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

Corridor  bearing  walls  constructed  of  12"  Blocks  and  face  brick  work  backed  up  with  8"  Blocks 


98 


()<i<lfello\vs  Home  of  Pennsylvania,  Middletown,  Pa. 
Straub  Blocks  with  brick  veneer. 
Architect,  Win.  II.  Lee,  Philadelphia 


Widows'  Home  Lebanon,  Pa. 

Outside  walls  constructed  of  Straub  Blocks  veneered  w ith  four  inches  of  clay  brick.  Inside  load  bearing  walls 

of  Straub  Blocks. 

Architects,  Bissell  & Sinkler,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  Contractor,  Rapp  Construction  Co.,  Lebanon,  Pa. 


99 


BLOC1CS 


/ 


r cBuild,inq 

<1/- 


St.  Joseph’s  Hospital,  at  Teaneck,  N.  J. 

Shown  under  process  of  construction.  The  exterior  walls  are  of  8"  Strauh  Cinder  Block,  veneered  with  hrick. 
Architect,  Jose  Consiglio  General  Contractors,  Whyte  Construction  Company 


View  of  interior  partitions  of  Strauh  Cinder  Blocks 

100 


Alsace  Township  School, 
Reading,  Pa. 

In  course  of  Construction 

All  exterior  and  interior  walls, 
including  foundations, 
built  of  Straub  Cinder  Blocks 

Architects,  Scholl  & Richardson, 
Reading,  Pa. 


Front  view  of  the  Alsace  Township  School 


101 


HOTELS  ^THEATERS 
BANKS’ APARTMENTS ’CLUBS 


103 


The  Significance  of  Larger  Building  Units  in  the 
New  Architecture 


A LMOST  it  seems  that  commercial  building  has  borrowed  a caption  f rom 
^ the  style  announcements.  “The  fashionable  silhouette  is  changing." 
And  with  the  change  to  the  new  zoned  building  comes  another  conception 
new  as  Babylon,  but  beautiful,  with  the  justice  of  balanced  masses  and  the 
beauty  of  fitness. 

Into  this  design  of  superb,  turreted  buildings  is  fitted  the  detail  of  Straub 
Block  Units,  completing,  rounding  out,  adding  the  beauty  of  perfect  effi- 
ciency to  the  beauty  of  aesthetic  massing. 

The  sweep  of  open  spaces  between  buildings,  destined  to  become  more 
pronounced  with  the  new  architecture,  will  expose  more  of  the  building  to 
the  action  of  temperature.  Straub  Units,  with  their  impervious  surfaces 
locked  against  the  effect  of  dampness  and  weather  and  wind  blown  cold, 
will  save  fuel  bills  aggregating  tremendous  sums  yearly  for  the  owners  of 
buildings,  and  provide  for  the  busy  office  fold  within  an  environment  scien- 
tifically adapted  to  the  construction  requirements  of  correct  living. 

Among  the  important  features  made  available  by  Straub  Block  Con- 
struction, possibly  the  most  unusual  in  its  happy  possibilities  is  the  Larger 
Building  Unit. 

The  significance  of  the  Larger  Building  Unit  for  all  construction  work, 
and  its  vital  importance  in  large  undertakings,  lies  primarily  in  the  superior 
standard  established  for  speed  of  construction,  and  secondarily  in  the  econ- 
omy of  mortar  and  other  materials  made  possible  by  more  fortunate  dimen- 
sions. 

In  particular,  the  economy  in  time  of  construction,  setting,  as  it  does, 
new  records  in  progress  of  erection  and  in  labor  saving,  carries  the  efficiency 
work  of  Gilbreth  a long  step  ahead  and  shortens  the  time  between  conception 
and  realization  on  all  building  operations  in  which  Straub  LTnits  are  used. 

The  protection  afforded  the  occupants  of  office  buildings  by  side  and 
partition  walls  of  this  material,  is  as  unique  in  one  way  as  the  economy  in 
time  of  construction  and  of  labor  is  unrivaled  in  another. 

Not  only  the  great  perils,  such  as  fire,  but  the  trifling,  yet  somehow 
important  details,  such  as  the  noise  of  a persistent  telephone  in  the  next 
office,  are  eliminated.  For  a brief  description  of  the  attributes  of  Straub 
Building  Units,  see  pages  7 and  8. 


l-.W' 


B L O 


L K_  o 


View  of  floor  and  ceilinft  construction  used  in  the  Walt  Whitman  Hotel,  Camden,  N.  J. 

after  removal  of  forms. 


Note  the  uniformity  of  cinder  blocks  in  the  foreground. 

(See  letter  from  Mr.  George  P.  Quigley,  Superintendent  of  Construction,  on  page  135. 


Another  view  of  floor  construction  showing  ceiling  ready  for  plaster. 
Note  uniformity  of  surface  afforded  by  Cinder  Blocks. 


106 


B L O 


B 


U 


DUll 


Walt  Whitman  Hotel,  Camden,  N.  J. 

Straub  Cinder  Blocks  used  to  back  4"  of  face  brick  and  for  floor  construction. 
Architects,  Engineers  and  Contractors — H.  L.  Stevens  & Co.,  New  York  City. 


Interior  view  of  exterior  wall 
showing  8"  Cinder  Block  used 
to  back-up  4"  of  brick. 


107 


Palisades  Apartments,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Straub  Cinder  Blocks  used  in  floors  and  roof.  Jos.  Joroslow,  owner.  Juppa  Battle  Co.,  Inc.  Contractors. 


Felix  Theatre  and  Office  Building,  Kansas  City,  Missouri 
Built  by  the  Fogel  Construction  Co.  Harry  Drake,  Architect. 

Walls  of  Straub  Cinder  Building  Blocks 


108 


Sir 


Granada  Apartments,  Norfolk,  Virginia 
Constructed  of  8"  and  12"  Cinder  Block  Walls,  with  4"  hrick  veneer 
Architect,  Philip  C.  Moser  Builder,  C.  C.  Pierce  Masonry  Contractors,  Cahoon  Hudgins 


Apartments  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
Walls  and  Basement  of  12"  Straub  Blocks 
Contractor,  Juppa  Battle  Co.,  Inc. 

10Q 


6 T A U B (finder  ‘'Building  B L O C K.S 


Two  8-family  apartments,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
Owner  and  Builder,  James  Lockhart,  Rochester,  N.  V. 


3 story  apartments  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri 
Owner,  C.  O.  Jones 
Architect,  Miss  Nell  E.  Peters 

110 


Colby  Park  Apartments,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
Owner,  L.  L.  Berman 
Contractors,  M.  Juppa  and  E.  Mag£io 
A Isfly  family  apartment,  backed  with  Straub  Blocks 


Lancaster  Gun  Club 
Built  by  Jas.  P.  Brenneman 
8"  Straub  Block  Walls,  Stuccoed 

m 


BLOCKS 


Haddonfield  Trust  Company,  Haddonfield,  N.  J. 

Under  construction.  Outside  walls  of  8"  Straub  Blocks  veneered  with  4"  of  brick.  Partition  walls  of  8"  Straub  Blocks. 

Contractors,  F.  W.  Warren  Co. 


4 Story  Apart  men  t,  Kansas  City,  Missouri 
Architect,  Miss  Nell  E.  Peters  Contractors,  Phillips  Building  Co. 


112 


Sheffield  Apartments,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

The  outside  walls  of  these  apartments  are  of  Straub  Blocks  veneered  with  four  inches  of  brick. 
Inside  plaster  is  applied  directly  to  the  block. 

Contractor,  George  E.  Sheffer,  Camp  Hill,  Pa. 


113 


Washington  Apartments  and  adjoining  stores  and  offices,  Tenafiy,  N.  J.  Franklin  L.  Groff,  Owner 
Peter  Pasquale.  Mason  Contractor.  Apartment  walls  5 " veneer  of  Straub  Blocks  over  frame.  Alteration  job 
Stores  and  offices  12  and  K"  Straub  Blocks.  These  walls  stopped  the  Tenafiy  conflagration. 

See  pages  136  and  153. 


Fexlix  Theatre,  Kansas  City,  Missouri 
Architect,  Harry  Drake  Builders,  Fogel  Construction  Co. 


114 


Eight  Hours  a Day — In  Ideal  Surroundings 

A large  proportion  of  our  urban  population  spend  the  most  important 
^ part  of  tlieir  days  in  an  office.  To  make  that  office  a place  worthy  of 
so  much  time  passed,  and  so  much  effort  given,  is  surely  justifiable,  and 
indeed  imperative. 

The  most  essential  part  of  these,  or  of  any  other,  surroundings,  is  not 
those  things  that  may  be  seen.  The  surrounding  atmosphere,  that  may  be 
too  hot  or  too  cold  or  too  damp,  that  may  be  filled  with  waves  of  noise  that 
distract  and  irritate,  is  one  element  in  office  life  that  has  a remarkable  in- 
fluence on  both  quantity  ant!  quality  of  work. 

How  often  do  we  hear — “I  can’t  work,  it’s  too  hot”  or  “I  can’t  work, 
it’s  too  cold”  or  “I  think  this  is  the  noisiest  office  in  town.” 

Side  and  partition  walls  built  of  Straub  Block  Units  eliminate  such 
annoyances.  The  cellular  construction  of  Straub  Units  form  a mass  of 
air  pockets  and  reduce  sound  transmission  to  a minimum. 

The  same  insulating  feature  neutralizes  the  atmospheric  changes  out- 
side. Idle  sudden  cool  day  is  not  chilly  in  an  office  walled  with  Straub  Units. 
The  sudden  hot  day  is  comfortable.  When  someone  works  overtime  and 
the  heat  is  shut  off,  there  is  no  aftermath  of  colds  or  illness. 

These  invisible  advantages  are  so  tremendously  real  that  many  com- 
mercial enterprises  have  realized  from  them  an  increase  in  comfort,  effi- 
ciency and  the  general  tone  of  their  entire  office  force. 

The  factor  of  fire  safety,  proven  repeatedly  by  exhaustive  tests,  adds  to 
a building  the  luxury  of  absolute  security. 

The  architect  and  owner  can  realize  these  benefits  for  the  tenants  in 
any  office  building,  at  a probable  saving  in  material,  a definite  saving  in 
labor,  and  in  many  cities  a lower  insurance  rate,  by  specifying  walls  of  Straub 
Building  Units. 


115 


o 

INDUS  TRIAL  BUILDINGS 


1 17 


Straub  Blocks  for  Industrial  Buildings 


C'VFR  since  the  Industrial  Revolution  created  the  factory,  it  has  been  the 
* J engineer’s  problem  to  give  that  utilitarian  and  grimy  institution  a fine- 
ness of  form  and  a convenience  of  detail  that  would  result  in  an  aesthetic 
justification  of  its  existence. 

His  problem,  also,  to  bring  to  the  workers  in  factories  a better  environ- 
ment and  to  the  management  of  factories  a greater  efficiency. 

It  has  been  made  possible  within  the  last  ten  years  to  practically  elimi- 
nate two  of  the  most  repellant  former  factory  characteristics—  heat  and 
noise,  by  segregation. 

Straub  Building  Units  make  this  segregation  practical,  logical  and  in- 
expensive. The  engine  room,  the  blast  furnaces,  the  places  of  intense  heat 
inside  are  partitioned  off  from  every  other  department  by  walls  of  heatproof 
Straub  Block  Units.  The  intense  heat  of  summer  in  the  outside  atmos- 
phere is  kept  outside,  too,  by  Straub  Walls,  and  the  efficiency  of  employees 
is  raised  proportionately. 

1 he  maddening  tap  of  riveting  machines,  the  clang  of  metal  against 
metal,  crash  and  roar  and  barbarous  din  of  the  factory  life  of  yesterday 
all  are  banished  by  sound-proof  Straub  Block  Units.  Possible  now  to  have 
concentrated  effort  in  an  unshaken  atmosphere. 

1'he  brighter  walls  that  science  has  proved  essential  to  the  dissemination 
of  light  rays  are  becoming  standard  in  all  new  or  remodelled  plants.  Idle 
natural  texture  of  Straub  Block  Units  affords  an  ideal  surface  for  the  appli- 
cation of  whiting  or  paint,  which  will  not  peel  or  scale. 

I he  fireproof  quality  of  Straub  Units  is  so  well  established  that  it  is 
unnecessary  to  dwell  upon  this  factor  for  plant  construction.  A fact  not  so 
well  known,  however,  is  that  Straub  Blocks  that  have  been  through  fires 
have  frequently  been  used  by  owners  for  rebuilding  purposes.  Fire  not  only 
is  defeated  by  the  use  of  these  units,  but  has  practically  no  effect  upon  them. 

I he  cracking  so  common  in  other  material  is  unknown  in  Straub  Units. 

A reproduction  of  the  Underwriters  Laboratory  Fire  Test  on  this 
material  will  be  found  on  page  159. 


119 


s 


BLOCKS 


A A U B (finder  ‘'Building 


Thawing  Plant  of  Reading  Co.,  Coal  Piers,  Port  Richmond,  Pa. 


A New  Outlook  in  Factory  Construction 

XJEW  possibilities  have  been  revealed  to  architects  and  to  builders  engaged  in 
” plant  construction  by  Straub  Block  Units.  New  tools  have  been  given  them 
toward  the  perfecting  ot  that  old  architectural  ideal,  the  adapting  of  more  perfect 
means  toward  the  realization  of  a long  visioned  end. 

The  scientific  possibilities  available  for  utilization  in  Straub  Block  Units  have 
already  effected  changes  in  plant  construction.  The  Philadelphia  & Reading  Rail- 
road. the  Campbell  Soup  Company,  the  Wellsbach  Co.,  the  Pittsburgh  Plate  Glass 
Co.,  the  Armstrong  Cork  Co.,  and  hundreds  of  others  have  used  this  material  in 
their  plants 

But  the  significance  of  complete  insulation  in  a building  material,  the  import- 
ance of  the  larger  unit  (mentioned  in  the  chapter  on  office  buildings,  page  105),  the 
combinations  and  creative  possibilities  in  this  most  scientifically  constructed 
material,  are  capable  of  practical  application  on  a scale  calculated  to  introduce  a 
new  era  in  plant  construction.  By  changing  the  physical  surroundings  ot  men,  and 
actually  creating  another  and  superior  environment,  the  industrial  aspect  of  archi- 
tecture and  life  takes  on  a different  meaning. 

The  minds  of  architect  and  industrial  engineer,  working  on  specific  problems, 
can  introduce  this  new  era  in  industrial  architecture  and  efficiency  through  the 
medium  of  this  provably  superior  material  whose  possibilities  are  even  yet  not 
fully  realized. 


120 


Boiler  Room  of  the  Campbell  Soup  Co.,  Camden,  N.  J 
8"  Straub  Block  Fire  Wall  specified  by  the  Campbell  Soup 
Co.  to  prevent  heat  from  penetrating  toother  parts  of  plant 


121 


BLOCKS 


S T R.A  U B>  (finder  c Building 


122 


Club  House  of  the  United  States  Aluminum  Co. 
at  New  Kensington,  Fa. 


r 


Office  and  Warehouse  of  the  Loose-Wiles  Biscuit  Co.,  Rochester,  N.  \ . 
Foundation  of  1 2" — Walls  of  8"  Straub  Blocks 
Contractor,  Juppa-Battle  Co.,  Inc.,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

123 


BLOCKS 


RA  U E>  (finder  ‘Building 


Plant  of  the  United  States 
Aluminum  Company 
New  Kensington  Pennsylvania 


124 


o 


U B Cinder  Ll>u 


Plant  of  Armstrong  Cork  Co  Linoleum  Division,  Lancaster,  Pa. 


Interior  of  Power  Plant  Armstrong  Cork  Co.,  Camden,  N.  J. 

125 


m*?**ms9wr  ■ ■■  \%mm  i imwh.  nc-g 


S__T  R A U £>  Cinder  building  B L Q CLS 


Manufacturing  Building  and  Power  Plant  of  the 
Armstrong  dork  Co.,  Camden,  N.  J. 


View  of  Power  Plant  of  the 
Armstrong  Cork  Co.,  Camden  N.  J. 


126 


Offices  of  the  Armstrong  Cork  Co. 
Linoleum  Division,  Lancaster,  Pa. 


Interior  of  Manufacturing  Building 
Armstrong  Cork  Co.,  Camden,  N.  J. 


T HA  U B (finder  ‘DuilcLing 


BLOCKS- 


Retaining  Meat  Mealing  oven  at  the  Braeburn  Steel  Company,  Braeburn,  Fa. 

The  oven  is  built  of  8 x 8 x 16  inch  blocks  and  the  gas  flames  play  directly  against  the  naked  block 
Interior  heat  450°F.,  exterior  walls  only  warm  to  the  hand,  because  of  the  insulating  quality  of  the  blocks 


Completed  ice  Mouse  of  the  Consumer’s  Ice  Company,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Built  of  steel  frame  and  Straub  Cinder  Block 


128 


Remington  and  Vosbury  Office  Building,  Camden,  N.  J. 

Architect,  Lackey  & Hettel  Construction  Engineer,  Carl  Zuch 


' J^'HE  quality  of  thought  in  the  occupants  of  office  buildings  is  clarified  by 
healthful,  even  temperatures  and  the  elimination  of  outside  disturbances. 
Straub  Blocks  are  insulated  against  heat,  cold  and  sound. 


129 


Experiences 


1 lie  testimony  of  Municipalities,  architects,  engineers  and 
individuals  who  have  used  or  investigated  Straub  Cinder 
Building  Blocks. 

The  following  names  are  represented  in  this  chapter: 


CITY  OK  PITTSBURGH, 

Chief  Engineer. 

CITY  OF  POTTSVILLE 

CITY  OF  PLAINFIELD 

CITY  OF  ELMIRA 

FOGEL  CONSTRUCTION  CO. 

HARRY  R.  MILLER,  Builder 

VICTOR  GONDOS,  Engineer 

UNITED  STATES  ALUMINUM  CO. 

COMMUNITY  HOTEL  CORPORATION 

CONSUMERS  ICE  AND  COAL  C'0. 

BRAEBURN  STEEL  COMPANY 

FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK, 

Springfield,  Ohio 

ALPHA  PORTLAND  CEMENT  CO. 


RUDOLPH  P.  MILLER 

Con.  Engineer,  Borough  of  Manhattan 

LACKEY  & HETTEL,  Architects. 

HAYES  & HOADLEY,  Architects. 

CARLTON  STRONG,  Architect. 

S.  S BEMAN,  Architect. 

W.  K.  SHILLING,  Architect. 

LEWIS  COLT  ALBRO,  Architect. 

GEBHART  & SCHAEFER,  Architects. 

HOWARD  J.  WIEGNER. 

EDWARDSVILLE  BOROUGH, 

Town  Council. 

PAUXTIS  MOTOR  SALES  CO. 
TENAFLY  LUMBER  & SUPPLY  CO. 
PORTLAND  CEMENT  ASSOCIATION 


Office  of  Chief  of  Fire  Department 


’ 033T3 , Crozler-Straub,  Inc., 

120  bat  42nd  St., 

:>.v  York  City,  Y. 

Gentlemen 

I attended  the  ’Ire  te3t  cade  at  Reading,  Pa.  July  12. 

I examined  the  building  exterior  and  interior  before  and 
after  the  fire  and  found  the  same  well  constructed  and  able  to 
stand  a fair  toot  of  a fire. 

After  the  fire  hod  burned  an  hour  and  five  minutes,  a 

r was  ipplied  to  tho  building  and  cooled  off.  Again 
examining  the  building  I found  the  hollo.:  tile  could  not  be  used 

• 

e ier  block 

•ed  and 

Ycure  truly 


, :cf  of  Fire  Cert. 


He  had  never  seen  blocks 
standing  such  an  even 
test.” 


pu»'nFIELO 

lTf  °F 


OePA^^N°T^Mlr.A 

cry  y,  Bui>-0'NCs 
r H*U 


ijovoobor 


I^en0  s^««’-o2tat°  . 

_ «*»  rtre  ;_  ...  *«  " 
nocti”1-''  SeK  sroB3«i=- 

st  ' 5li 

CollcS®  • naJ0  fr.e  tca 

tested-  w y,rofissor  even  te;  • 

, bioo«  BtsEiU-l>  r,nulT®aent3' 

.•  >“  — ' ....  »•  •”  >"• 

T*e  «3t  • p.033  &rea*  " 

sq‘  ^ *t’«r  wooK  w usc'  70.  , 

. tv,-  i3  »»  ’*  J of 


Cr02ier.yy^ 

: • • 
, . • 


•Aug.  10 

. 


teat  of  n 1 2th 

Partition  ir'°  0tl*UCtr]y«  Tick  anQ 

tnd  fii?"  »«u».  x::in.  *aa  d!v<,... 


- »loct  ?! 

Partition  8tructu»*«  * rIc^  and 

"><  1*8*“$}!-  « 2?  ^Vlded  intD  , 

4,wl««  i.T  M*t  ^ 

'ur®  aid  tSe  fIr.  " a11  ro»Poo‘t3 

Apparently  fin^r°  ta<Uy  cr»8v P°8ei ci0  to  thc  3truc- 

*“«•  * **°*  tt?»sskXf*£&'zrl  ■ 


: , v;,-^  SSSfsSSSfe. 

»«.  JT  “ “ 

: 

- **• 


;-s  the 
appea 

•it-T'"’  unIt  Wlr!!flstl*« 
U-ln  ‘*Mr  nlV"”  flQ. 

'"oura  vsyy  tru  1 cdnnot 


‘uur 8 very 

CU2^ 

£uP‘-  or  flia 


of 


Cv»v 


OV 


1’V 


1 r 


lit1 


, -o'  -v  ■ 


!7l>> 


1922- 


-*Z£c$2l3f®g**g**~ 
oi  rtc 

?\«srjs Bano  „»,** 

^SSi—  . tilac®  1 *s» « *° 


,svs*  •-'  , ...  nvtf«v.y-  •••“ 

•*••'„  „./E5S»*r>s*”  , „,. « • •«r> 

tovm  oi  attoT  **  .oU,ht  «\tni  must  * have  ©o 

, COV  no  IO  „ '»«  o-’sot 

?ss  3g^ss&»  f^sisSsS5 

- "»rt&  “ ,t.«  «TBa0tt0»  °J  f verv  ^6d  3t>o«oi 

0 t ^ 

«r^3on  £nV  - ^ t„  .**& 


I fully  recommend  the 
block  for  durability, 
safety  and  economy.” 


City  of  Pittsburgh 

Pennsylvania 


PUBLIC  SAFETY 


July  16th,  1^24. 


ozier-Struub,  Inc., 


Gentlemen: 

I atter.dod  the  firo  test  made  at  Heading,  Pa.,  July  12th. 

The  building  was  12  x 20  x 11  feet  high  with  a wood  roof.  The  outer 
re  constructed  of  cinder  block,  face  brick  and  hollow  clay 
tile.  The  front  of  the  building,  with  openings  for  firing,  was 
entirely  of  cinder  blocks.  There  were  three  corapartn.onts.  One  of 
the  partition  walls  was  entirely  of  Straub  blocks  and  on  top  of  this 
•all  was  placed  ten  tons  of  pig  iron.  The  other  compartment  wall 
was  composed  of  cinder  blocks,  hollow  clay  tile  and  faco  brick.  There 
was  no  weight  placed  on  top  of  this  partition.  All  walls  ivero  eight 
inches  in  thickness. 

I oxamined  the  exterior  and  interior  walls  before  the 
fire  and  found  the  workmanship  to  be  good  and  the  material  ar- 
ranged in  a runner  indicating  every  intention  that  the  test  might 
bo  fair  to  all  materials  used. 

After  the  fire  had  been  quonchod  at  the  end  o'  one  hour 
and  thirty  minutes,  I again  examined  the  walls  and  found  that  99  ’ 
of  the  clay  tile  ivero  cracked  and  certainly  looked  as  if  they  were 
not  reusable.  At  least  50,v  of  the  brick  were  destroyed  for  fur- 
ther use.  The  Straub  blocks  were  practically  uninjured,  so  far  as 
re-use  was  concerned. 

This  is  not  the  first  fire  tost  I have  seen  in  which 
Straub  Blocks  were  exposed  to  even  greater  heat  and,  there. ore, 

I was  fully  prepared  to  see  these  results. 

For  more  than  four  years  I have  been  convinced  that  Straub 
blocks  are  paramount  in  fireproof  qualities  compared  with  any  other 
known  building  material,  but  it  waa  not  luitil  after  I was  conv  sd 
of  their  other  structural  qualities  that  their  use  waa  permitted  in 
the  City  of  Pittsburgh,  and  this  material ,.  made  in  accordance  with 
the  Straub  process,  I fully  rocomraend  for  durability,  safety  and  econ- 
omical construction. 

Xour*  very  truly 


133 


“I  am  more  convinced 
than  ever  that  this 
construction  is  the 
most  satisfactory  and 
economical  — " 


HOWARD  J.  WIEGNER 

MCHITICT 


Feb.  5,  1925. 


Mr.  G.  E.  Math,  Mgr. , 
Berks  Building  Block  Co., 
Beading,  Pa. 

Dear  Sir: 


I have  been  specifying  and  using  Straub  patent 
cinder  blocks  for  the  past  two  years  and  find  that  they  are 
certainly  all  right,  and  it  is  my  intention  to  continue  the 
use  of  them. 

Further  than  this  I do  not  know  what  else  to  say, 
for  the  cinder  block  is  everything  that  is  claimed  for  it. 

•Vith  kindest  personal  regards,  I remain 


134 


Very  truly  yours 


“There  is  practically  no  breakage  whatever  in  the  Cinder  Block.” 


Th©  Camden  Community  Hotel  Construction 


Community  Hotel  Corporation 
of  Camden.  N.  J. 

OWNERS 


H.  L.  Stevens  & Company 
ARCHITECTS 
New  York  N Y 


Concrete  Specialties  Company, 
Lit.  Ephraim  Avenue, 

Camden,  New  Jersey. 


Camden.  N.  J. 

February  19,  1925 


Attention:  Hr.  1.  A,  Goodwin 


Dear  Sir: 


Regarding  the  use  of  cinder  block  in  the  new  Walt  './hitman 
Hotel  at  Camden,  IT.  J.,  we  may  say  that  all  exterior  walls  in  this 
building  are  backed  up  with  this  material. 

We  have  also  used  your  cinder  concrete  built  up  lintels 
over  window  openings,  and  for  a considerable  area  of  the  floors, 
have  used  the  8"  x 12"  x 8"  block  in  lieu  of  hollow  tile. 

During  the  construction  of  this  eight  story  reinforced 
ooncrete  building,  we  were  held  up  on  deliveries  of  8"  x 12"  x 12" 
hollow  tile  for  flooring,  and  to  facilitate  progress,  we  decided 
to  use  the  Concrete  Specialties  Company’s  8"  x 12"  x 8"  half- 
foundation blocks. 

We  found  the  weight  of  these  blocks  practically  the  same 
as  that  of  the  tile.  We  also  found  that  the  blocks  laid  up  on 
our  forms  to  better  advantage,  and  did  not  shift  so  readily  from 
their  original  position,  and  that,  being  unbaked,  they  came  on 
the  Job  more  uniform  in  size  and  shape  than  the  kiln-hake d tile. 
They  laid  in  very  quickly,  and  once  placed,  were  not  easily  dis- 
lodged from  their  position. 

When  these  floors  were  stripped,  the  blocks  showed  a 
more  even  surface  which  will  require  less  labor  in  plastering 
to  produce  a good  job,  and  we  believe  the  block  to  he  a consider- 
able labor  saver  over  the  use  of  floor  tile. 

Both  as  regards  the  labor  saved  in  placing  and  the 
absolute  lack  of  breakage,  we  have  found  this  block  to  be  very 
satisfactory  for  all  uses.  There  is  practically  no  breakage  what- 
ever in  the  cinder  block. 

Personally,  I do  not  hesitate  to  recommend  the  use  of 
this  block  for  any  of  the  above  purposes.  Hay  I also  congratulate 
your  plant  for  exceptional  service  and  deliveries. 

Very  truly  yours. 


O C K.S 


136 


A letter  from  the  author  of  the  New  York  Building  Code. 


RUDOLPH  P.  MILLER 

M- AMSOC.C.E. 

CONSULTING  ENGINEER 
NEW  YORK 


TEL  8636  BRYANT 


S5  WEST  45  STREET 


January  22,  1925. 

Mr.  Howard  Brooke, 

22  Engle  Avenue, 

Englewood,  IT.  J. 

Dear  Sir: 

Complying  with,  your  request  for  an  expression  of  my  opinion  on 
the  performance  of  the  Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Blocks  in  the  fire 
of  December  15,  1924,  at  Tenafly,  IT.  J. , I can  say  that  the  block 
walls  resisted  the  attack  of  fire  in  a highly  commendable  manner 
and  undoubtedly  prevented  the  spread  of  the  fire  into  a conflagra- 
tion. 


Prom  my  examination  of  the  premises  on  December  26,  and  con- 
versation with  witnesses,  I believe  that  the  fire  was  of  more  than 
ordinary  severity  and  that  the  walls  of  cinder  concrete  blocks  were 
subjected  to  very  high  temperatures  for  a period  of  more  than  three 
hours  while  the  fire  burned  at  its  height. 

The  bearing  walls  and  the  veneer  walls  of  cinder  concrete 
blocks  are  apparently  as  structurally  safe  as  prior  to  the  fire. 
Slight  calcination  of  the  exposed  surfaces  of  the  blocks  occurred 
where  the  fire  was  severest  discoloring  them  to  brownish  tint,  but 
such  discoloration  should  not  be  seriously  objectionable. 

Many  blocks  in  the  exposed  walls  were  tested  with  blows 
from  a hammer  and  they  rang  as  clearly  as  new  blocks  when  struck. 

It  should  not  be  necessary  to  replace  any  blocks  either  for  safety 
or  because  of  their  appearance. 

The  communication  of  fire  from  building  to  building  was  through 
unprotected  wall  openings  and  in  no  case  through  cinder  block  walls. 
The  slight  damage  occuring  in  the  one-story  store  building  and  the 
location  of  the  damage  in  the  apartment  house  are  examples  of  this. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  block  veneering  on  the  apartment 
house  alone  made  it  possible  to  save  this  building  from  destruction 
and  afforded  the  necessary  fire  stop  to  prevent  a conflagration. 


Ycurs  very  truly, 


a 


Ur.  F.  L.  Schott, 
Kingston,  Pa. 

Dear  Sir:- 


Engine  and  Hose  Co. 

02==X]  No.  1 aE=xi 

Kingston,  I'a.,  - sepieuLsr  i5_ia 0^192 


Subject:  Straub  ember  Block 
Fire:  Pauxtle  Garage. 


me  fire  abler  oocurrul  In  this  gsrafe  .00  ncot  lntenee.ae  there 
.,re  about  100  ears  destroyed  and  each  car  had  gae  In  the  tank. 

After  the  fire  I examined  the  building,  »hich  «ao  lOO'xlOO'.  one 
otory,  built  partly  of  ordinary  concrete  block  and  partly  of  Straub  Cinder 
block.  I found  that  the  only  .all.  renaming  Intact  .ere  those  built  of 
the  cinder  block  and  1 noticed  particularly  that  none  of  the  Cinder  block 
or  sorter  Joints  bonding  then  .ere  even  fractured.  One  co-uaon  concre 
blocks  crumbled  and  very  fee  could  be  used  again. 

The  garage  has  since  been  rebuilt  and  your  cinder  block,  .ere 
used;  the  former  cinder  block  .all  .hlcr  .cnt  through  the  fire  needed  no 
rebuilding  and  stands  a credit  to  the  merits  of  tr.e  aa.erlal. 

The  fireproof  qualities  of  ctraub  Cinder  Block  .ee  certainly 
i lr.  this  fire  and  1 have  never  seen  lte  equal. 


pro 


Very  truly  yours. 


“Every  cinder  block  was 
used  again  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  new 
building.” 


^arbamUr  SoUm 


(fcounrU- 


1.  Schott, 

,v..  ?-• 


Subje 


Ba-uktlb  ;ari"  ?i‘:ch. 
Straub  c-.-a 


Dear  Sir: - 


of  tflC  Straub 

. , rate  bj  . tvat  the  ■ J „ « -J3  opi*11-011 

“ Ejected  - . --- 

■?a\ucti9  ,ve-  rere  suu* 

terrible  be" 

renarittble 


r sere  a"  • ^ 

. thls  year  the  »-* oU  you 

. - - - - . 

l'f"t3tte  fl»“s  t0  mmimr  MS  8 very^  t «*=,  1 ; ■ 

Sforli^^f  St  - - - - “**-£5  mV  bit 

x - SwJS8*  *°  %£,*£ » H&fZSAv*  •*  ” 

vave  . -ivnAor  blocr^» 

thoy  r 3tmub  uiclhlt;'  Of 

t,at  the 

^blff-  ’~1S* 


fire; 


test 


esses 


ery  truly  your6 1 


chief  or  « 


ry  CSVIBI' 


FIFE  ELF'-T 


"tsr  sii 

■'  A.V|»  | . f •* 



CjSQZf  „ 

iS  Fnc. 

York,  -oguet  gg 

'•''"it,,; 

- ..a, 

• . ■ - ■ " '/  --V 

■ ■- 

tB, , f •',0‘ 

f.l  f°od  r,.,.*"Ot  a „ — aa  m..  t . 


t^V^od  o^'Mon  gf^b  Plocna 

."Xoia  I*™  la  iVl.WoeiVlaetSTI  . , 

lar*  «tai£»  aa/t<vy  „ ■SiSttnt 

tr,  ;'0U1(i'  '“v.VnS  “t^O'-ed?'' 

c^lfWooia  ay,?  *•»»  had  “*  t0  «5?.££  ‘ 

»>«  co,rf, 

rour3  J”?-  t",«  . 


138 


“In  my  experience 
that 


I have  never  known 
is  more  desirable.” 


of  a material 


nocr. 

o'110' 

uou*  * tl“6t  I ^ 

It  1B  >ltti  Ituch  satiBfactlor 

Church  of  c*  ’ M»r  Known  of 

s*strr~»Si'. 

“rSr.n  — 1 nn 

nvo  f-'1 1 ’ 3Jetirl  your  bl-"1 

i s-n f * &£.to 
whenev  or  t»  °‘"10rtunl 


votv  truly  v°’-ir3' 


A.  D.  Alderson,  . 

Loulsiana-Texas  Concrete  Products  Co.,  Inc., 
815  Malson  Blanche  Building, 

New  Orleans,  La. 


In  reply  to  your  inquiry  for  mv  opinion 

af ter'oonaiderable'exparlenc^wtth^then^ ^that^I^ay®  tb.  hl^eU 

opinion  of  their  many  structural  properties. 

Being  the  first  American  architect  to  ma  na^experi-" 

SEiSiTii  "h- uar?orrnoSrrEon”;ucUon!  *”  ' 

.le.„  t.  h.nS:,ss::rtB.lr.; 

of  the  mechanical  bond  which  it  affords  between  joints. 


th 


It  makes  a very  straight  and  true  wall  and  off 
foundation  for  plastering  unequaled  by  “^tv-four  years, 

which  I am  familiar,  and  I have  been  practicing  tnirty  four  y 

The  block  has  splendid  sound-proof  qualities  and,  for 
.his  reason  is  ve?y  desirable  for  schools  and  other  places  where 
sound-proofing  is  valued.  I know  of  no  “aterials  that  w a 
pllsh  like  results  in  sound-proofing  at  the  same  coat. 


admits  of  the  erection  of  trim  with- 
e and  hold  nails  very  satisiactor- 


The  Straub  Block 
out  grounds,  since  it  will  re 
ily,  as  may  be  discovered  on  trial. 

The  material  la  fire-proof,  makes  god 
lWht  bulldinrs  has  great  structural  strength,  and  is  well  Buuea 
fiJ  Peering  with  brick-work.  Other  advantages  will  occur  to  per- 
sons making  use  of  it. 


Very  truly  your 


iruiy  yuui 


nru^  * 

I am  sorry  the  block  is  not  more  widely  distributed,  ae 
am  frequently  force.l  to  use  Inferior  substitutes  for  It  that  cost 
/rreat  deal  more. 


139 


B L O 


BENJAMIN  HOWELL  ^ 
JOSEPH  NORMAN  H 
ARCHITECTS 


- a-  "•  J‘ 


Dear  Sir* 


»5“““ 


onprB3—  yi°f' "t'„Te  •.-**! f 

‘.7e . Ute  v*lio '&£?§£****  to^of- 

tV.  BeKinning  as  * *^en  Ur.  first  tlocia.  >*  T_  have 

- -- oc  proc 

however,  77  using  tne  t 

said  before,  are  t ruction.  at 

every  J013,  . ™-Jer  conatr  , ln 


h0We 

jos»»»obm*hL£“* 

tenners  L 

Ur-  ».  n.  m f£J 

J3lncitiv00d; 

*■  used  f0 

ci9  ln  &.  ?£«»«•*  o» 

a Small  ~ a r.  °n  to  th<  o Gverrr 

...  “ro 


sing  at 

SS*T#iV  ' t„  SCE001  is  ~ 

vie  have  two  * Borough  « these  v llo  x 12  * IE 

"r^e'uTlng  Clnder  Ble^-^inE  £ “yl  plastered 

stUj  nrs4“*«“®> - 

directly - «““  “ „0  2torles,rlir-f0^te 

>e  other  Bcnool  t Yje  used  1-  and  second  8 

heigh,.  .^SSHS^-ti  ■ -■ 

Bel0cfnderVocr  :lth  V ^ 21oe“ 
he  plastered  a . 


, thrower  Bloeis  ^ ^ 

*asrt**s«SSSs.5S££ 

■SKJKb***  *••“•*  “'“ , . ....... 

nuch  aore  . .-ruction  of  a dare  Cur_ 

. 

-^irur^s  •-  *—nt 

tain  I?!1?,””  This  13  a -a 
“°rfct“Cal  3teel  ire.se  •'<>  — 


assise* — ~~«W 

- s •a'si^f.?lSa., ..... 

*•  ~isiS  « ......  " *•■•  -“a.T 

your  Bse06S3 


f8r. 


April  30th.  1924. 


Crozier-Straub,  Inc., 
120  .Vest  42nd  Street. 

I.'e.v  York  City, 


manufactured 


,'a  recosriond  the  Straub  cinder  concrete  blocks 
nder  your  patents  for  tho  follov/ing  reasons: 


They  are  fireproof;  they  are  of  uniform  sizo, 
resulting  in  a straight  wall;  they  are  damp-proof,  which 
eliminates  furring  and  lathing  for  tho  interior  plaster  and  the 
are  an  exceptionally  good  base  for  stucco. 


The  blocks  being  light  are  rapidly  laid  and  re- 
quire only  about  cue-third  the  mortar  for  the  equivalent  wall 
area  of  brick. 

The  first  building  in  which  wo  used  your  blocks 
was  the  ISackay  Terrace,  Engle  )d,  V,  JJ,  e recently  speci- 
: . . . ■ Inga . 

Conn,  The  block 3 will  be  shipped  from  one  of  your  Hew  Jersey 
plants, 

rte  consider  the  additional  freight  and  hauling 
charges  fully  justified  by  the  quality  of  wall  secured  in  using 
Straub  blocks  und  the  several  economic  features  resulting  there- 
from. 


Yours  very  trulyy 


cm/in 


lWe  consider  the  addi- 
tional freight 

charges  fully  justified 

by  the  quality  of 

Straub  Block.” 


140 


Inarch  26th,  1923, 

Tho  Springfield  Cinder  Blook  Company, 

1076  Kenton  Street, 

Springfield,  Ohio, 

Oont  lemon:  - 

I want  to  give  my  unqualified  approval  of  tho  cinder 
block  you  are  making,  and  which  I first  used  In  tho  static  and 
-crage  of  Mr.  John  I.  Bushnell  at  Springfield,  Ohio. 

The  block  baa  so  many  good  points  that  it  la  difficult 
to  mention  all  of  thorn,  but  for  exterior  work,  which  is  to  receive 
atucoo  on  the  outside,  and  for  interior  partitions,  because  of 
its  nail  driving  possibilities,  I know  of  no  block  on  the  market 
which  can  equal  it. 

The  blocks  are  so  perfectly  made  with  their  interlock- 
in', tongue  and  grove  end  Joints,  that  they  must  lay  very  quickly , 
and  the  lightness  of  the  block  is  also  an  element  of  mtich  importance, 
They  are,  of  course,  absolutely  fireproof,  and  made  under 
hydraulic  pressure  they  are  absolutely  uniform  in  size  and  shape. 
Because  of  their  lightness,  toughness,  and  interlocking 
and  fireproof  qualities,  combined  with  the  rapidity  with  which  they 
c-an  bo  laid,  I believe  you  have  a block  which  will  prove  an  enormous 
success  in  the  building  material  world. 

I shill  be  glad  at  any  time  to  answer  individually  any 
inquiries  from  my  brother  architects  in  regard  to  your  block. 
Faithfully  yoars^/7 


“The  block  has  so  many  good 
points  that  it  is  difficult  to 
mention  all  of  them.*’ 


n 


BLOCKS 


A U B QincLer  '‘Building 


142 


(finder  1 Buildino  BLOC-  KL.  S 


Consumers  Ice  and  Coal  Company 

PLUM  AND  LIBERTY  ETBEETH 
LANCASTER,  PA. 


ore  to  'i’i  lo  Co,,  Fob,  . , 192  , 

L'-i  least  r,  i • i . 

Ropl’.i ng  to  your  inquiry  of  this  dato  concerning  tho 
condition  of  tho  walls  of  our  now  ico  storago  building  con- 
structed of  your  blocks,  we  arc  ploasod  to  say  that  tho  walls 
, to  our  comploto  sat lc fact  ion, 
ilding  as  you  know  is  60*  x 130'  x 40'  high. 

It  i3  remarkable  that  thoro  appoar3  in  this  wall  only  ono 

, 

crack  sprung  in  tho  outor  part  of  tho  wall  near  a stoel  column 
through  tho  wall  on  tho  inside.  There  is 
not  a sign  of  it  in  tho  fivo  inch  cork  lining  on  the  inside, 
ha3  boo  on  t o wall  ab< >ut  two  mont hs. 

... 

o : .o  all  crack. 


Warm  in  winter, 
cool  in  summer, 
and  free  from  all 
moisture — 


Wo  si. all  be  ploasod  at  any  time  to  3how  our  building 
e i torestod  in  yo  :r  block  for  construction  work, 

Youre  very  truly, 

Co  Burners'  Ice  A Coal  t 


143 


s 


B 


= 


BLOCK. 


FOG  EL  CONSTRUCTION  COMPANY 

GENERAL  CONTR  AtTTORS 


Dec..  27th..  4 

KANSAS  CITY.  MO  . 192 


Crozier-Straub  Inc., 

Hr.  G.  Edgar  Allen, 

120  Weet  42nd.,  St., 

New  York  Clt7. 

Dear  Slr:- 

In  keeping  the  coete  in  the  use  of  cinder  blocks 
on  our  different  Jobs,  we  have  found  that  we  can  save  about 
10 0 for  plastering  on  cinder  block  over  good  hollow  tile, 
.hero  is  alRo  a saving  of  at  least  50^  on  labor  In  placing 
grounde  on  cinder  block  partitions  over  any  other  oartltlon 
material  used. 

Comparing  the  coet  of  building  a 12"  cinder  block 
S1Lwlth  brici:  wal1.  wil1  8»7  If  common  brick  were 

bo. 00  per  thousand  delivered  on  the  Job;  we  oould  build  the 
x cinder  block  as  oheap  as  we  could 
with  the  v8.00  per  thousand  brick. 


An  8”  cinder  block  wall  would 
more  than  carry  the  load.” 


144 


Tlw  Uiiitrb  Stnti’r*  Aluminum  Oumpstiti) 

~y///r  S//  //  // /r//////  /,, 


■ . ..  1 ». 


c :m=uns  Hoc 

t-idobriAor  Dulldlne;. 

South  Bind,  Ind. 

ntlc  ion: 


r let  t,  15th,  use  of 

Cindor  Block  as  furnishod  by  Mr.  Straub.  We  have  used  tho  4" 
back  up  binder  Block  to  a lar'o  oxtont  in  buildiu  - offico  partitions, 
• ' Bloi  ,;j  o 1 mi  plastering  directly  thereon. 

r c partitions  liavo  boon  installed  for  about  six  (C)  yours. 

A short  tine  ago  it  .'as  necossaiy  to  cut  through  one  of  these 
partitions  for  a door  and  "?  wore  particularly  impressed  with  tho 
liardne.j  of  those  blocks. 


“They  have  a fire  rating 
better  than  any  other 
hollow  building  unit." 


bo  also  noticed  that  sorno  of  tho  nails  with  which  tho  finish 
Liled  t '■  lor  ‘ lock.  These  nails  after  being  with  drawn 

>lut  f.  no  e *foct  of  corrosion. 

Tho  writer  personally  ha 3 built  several  houses  and  us od  tho  0" 
Hollow  Cinder  Block  for  foundation.  Tho  type  of  houses  built  were 
of  tho  solid  franc  and  brick  veneer  type  of  cons tr act ion.  Those 
houses  have  been  built  from  a period  of  five  f 5)  and  Lx  (6) 
and  have  not  yet  shown  any  weakness  in  foundation. 

Any  farther  do',  liled  information  wo  can  furnish  you,  e i 1 i 
bo  pleased  to  do  so  at  your  ro-iuest. 


145 


Stucco  Finishes  for  Straub  Block  Houses 


JJFCAUSK  ot  the  great  variety  ot  finishes  possible,  the  use  of  stucco 
over  Straub  Block  Walls  enables  every  architect  to  select  a surfacing 
that  will  be  in  keeping  with  the  desired  style  ol  architecture  and  the 
taste  of  the  owner. 

l he  durability,  permanent  nature,  and  general  adaptability  of 
stucco  makes  it  particularly  suitable  for  houses  of  Straub  Block  con- 
struction. 

l he  surface  ol  the  Straub  Blook  affords  a perfect  bond  for  stucco 
finish  and  the  combination  ol  these  two  materials  makes  possible  a well 
nigh  perfect  wall,  both  structurally  and  artistically. 

Alfonso  Iannelli,  Professor  ol  Design  at  the  Chicago  Art  Institute, 
who  has  made  an  extensive  research  into  the  subject  of  Stucco,  says: 

“Good  taste  suggests  the  desirability  ol  making  the  exterior  wall 
finish  conform  with  the  general  style  of  the  residence.  Modern  materials 
and  modern  implements  make  this  possible.  For,  subjected  to  the  talent 
of  the  architect,  stucco  becomes  a sensative  medium  through  which  the 
texture-and-tone  qualities  ol  each  period  can  be  expressed.” 


147 


FRENCH  BRUSH 


COLONIAL 


A somewhat  uneven  surface  reduced 
by  hand  rubbing. 


ENGLISH 

The  irregularities  are  produced  by 
side  strokes  of  the  trowel. 


A sanded  surface  finished  with  a 
wood  or  cork  float. 


ITALIAN  COTTAGE 

A springe  finish  developed  on  a soft 
plastic  surface. 

148 


CALIFORNIA 

A rough  cast  finish  reduced  by  rubbing 
with  a carpet-covered  fioat. 


.-j 


•c 


ITALIAN 


3* 


final  coat  is  rough  cast,  then 
partially  troweled  smooth. 


ENGLISH  COTTAGE 

The  surface  of  the  final  coat  is 
feathered  with  the  back  edge  of 
the  trowel. 


GOTHIC 

A Hoated  finish  rough-torn  with 
the  hack  edge  of  the  trowel. 


FRENCH  TROWEL 

Broad  sweeping  strokes  of  the 
trowel  result  in  this  finish. 


MODERN  AMERICAN 

The  edge  of  the  float  or  trowel  is 
used  to  roughen  a smooth  finish 
Slightly. 


An  irregular  surface  produced  by 
feathering  with  a wood  float. 


Used  by  courtesy  of  Portland  Cement  A. 


FIRE  PROTECTION 


151 


A hollow  5'inch  wall  of 
Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Blocks 
Saved  Tenafly 


f\NE  of  the  most  remarkable  incidents  in  the 
history  of  fire  occurred  in  December,  1924, 
at  the  Tenafly,  N.  J.  conflagration. 

The  bleak  early  darkness  of  winter  afternoon 
was  incarnadined  with  lurid  light,  the  intense  cold 
transmuted  into  scorching  heat,  and  the  fire,  goaded 
forward  by  a thirty-five  mile  gale,  stretched  flaming 
talons  toward  the  town. 

Two  buildings,  the  great  old  frame  barn  and 
warehouse  of  Taveniere  & Johnson,  and  the  office 
building  that  adjoined  it,  were  blazing.  Six  blocks 
away  embers  were  falling,  carried  by  the  western 
gale.  Two  blocks  away  a Church  caught  fire. 
Seven  fire  companies,  responding  to  emergency 
calls,  fought  to  localize  the  danger. 

But  the  warehouse  and  office  building  were 
doomed.  Roofs  across  the  street  were  catching 
flame.  The  heat  was  overwhelming.  There  was 
but  one  hope  of  staying  a general  conflagration. 
But  a few  feet  away,  the  west  wall  of  the  Washing- 
ton Apartments,  rose  three  stories  in  height  and 
five  inches  in  thickness — five  inches  of  Hollow 
Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Block  between  Tenafly 
and  the  fire! 

Great  billows  of  flame  swept  the  wall’s  surface. 
So  intense  was  the  heat  that  the  firemen  experi- 


enced great  difficulty  in  overcoming  the  blaze. 
Five  hundred  gallons  of  icy  water  a minute- 
roared  against  the  wall,  hurled  from  each  fire  hose. 

Icy-cold  and  red-hot — contraction  and  expansion 
in  their  most  extreme  form,  throwing  their  united 
powers  against  a five  inch  wall,  tied  to  its  interior 
framework  only  by  sheet  metal  clips,  and  from 
foundation  up  supporting  its  own  weight.  And  for 
three  and  one-half  hours  the  Straub  Block  walls  of 
the  Washington  Apartments  were  subjected  to  this 
supreme  test. 

The  wall  held.  Straub  Blocks  saved  Tenafly. 
And  after  such  an  ordeal  as  is  seldom  recorded, 
the  wall  stood  straight  as  a plumb  line,  undeflected, 
uncracked,  and  without  a sign  of  heat  penetration. 

The  New  Jersey  State  Tenement  House  Com- 
mission, sealing  the  choice  of  owner  and  architect 
tor  a 5"  Hollow  Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Wall  for 
fire  protection,  approved  this  material. 

The  wisdom  of  this  approval  is  now  overwhelm- 
ingly manifested.  The  results  of  the  fire  at  Tenafly 
are  of  such  interest  and  importance  to  authorities 
on  building  construction  and  Insurance  Under- 
writers that  the  site  has  been  visited  and  the  details 
inspected  by  numbers  of  experts,  builders  and 


153 


architects  from  various  boroughs  of  the  Metro- 
politan District  of  New  York. 

Further,  the  wall  of  the  Washington  Apartments 
was  not  the  only  piece  of  masonry  to  testify  to 
tremendous  strength  and  endurance  of  Straub 
Blocks.  The  gutted  office  building,  its  interior 
destroyed  by  the  fire  that  penetrated  its  wooden 


rear  walls,  also  possessed  side  walls  of  12"  and  8" 
Straub  Block,  two  of  which  were  wings,  unsupported 
at  one  end.  Against  the  east  wall  of  this  office 
building,  as  against  the  west  wall  of  the  Washington 
Apartments,  the  fire  strove  for  three  and  one-half 
hours,  and  both  wing  walls,  unsupported,  one  of 
them  pierced  with  five  openings,  stood  staunch 
against  the  impact  of  many  tons  of  water. 


Not  a single  unit  was  displaced  in  any  of  the 
Straub  Block  walls,  and  not  a single  crack  or  fracture- 
developed  as  the  result  of  these  extremes  of  tem- 
perature. 

More  significant  still,  in  the  store  next  adjoining 
the  office  building  the  plaster,  applied  directly  to 
the  blocks  and  only  twelve  inches  away  from  these 
extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  shows  no  sign  of  the 
fury  that  raged  on  the  other  side  of  the  wall.  There 
are  no  signs  of  heat  penetration  on  the  other  side 
of  any  of  these  Straub  Block  barriers.  Charred  sur- 
faces are  confined  to  sash  and  door  openings. 

An  interesting  fact  that  further  illustrates  the 
tenacity  of  the  walls  was  revealed  in  the  entire 
absence  of  fractures,  even  where  girders  and  joists 
tore  themselves  loose  from  the  walls.  W here  frame- 
work had  been  nailed  directly  to  the  blocks  in  the 


window  openings,  the  wood  has  been  torn  or  burned 
away,  leaving  the  nails  imbedded  in  the  block. 

Building  experts  and  Fire  Chiefs  present  at  the 
fire,  and  basing  their  judgment  upon  experience 
with  other  masonry  materials,  predicted  at  the 
height  of  the  conflagration  that  the  walls  of  the 
Washington  Apartments  could  not  be  expected  to 
withstand  the  intensity  of  the  strain,  and  that  this 
building  would  be  destroyed,  and  with  it  the  entire 
business  district  directly  in  the  path  of  the  flames. 

But  every  Straub  Block  in  these  walls  is  perfect , 
and  fit  for  use  a%ain.  Struck  with  a hammer,  every 
one  rings  true. 

Their  duplicates  are  obtainable  from  the  more 
than  fifty  plants  manufacturing  under  Straub 
Patents,  listed  in  this  book. 


154 


Facts  the  Fire  Exposed 

The  results  of  this  conflagration  have  proven  beyond  any  doubt  that  Cinder 
Concrete  Blocks  manufactured  under  the  Straub  Process  have  the  following 
points  of  superiority  over  any  mason  material  commonly  used  for  general  building 
construction. 


1.  Extraordinary  insulative  value. 

2.  Stubborn  resistance  to  flame  under  extreme 
temperature. 

3.  Absence  ot  fracture  under  extremes  of  tem- 
peratures. 

4.  A load  bearing  wall  that  will  not  bulge  or 
deflect  under  temperature  extremes,  including 
those  of  freezing  and  thawing. 

5.  A tenacity  in  the  mortar  joints  sufficient  to 
prevent  the  dislodgment  of  units  under  heavy 
impact  and  extremes  of  temperature. 


6.  Resistance  ol  a bearing  wall  twenty  feet  high, 
twenty  feet  wide,  pierced  with  live  openings, 
to  the  lateral  thrust  of  falling  girders  and  the 
impact  of  fire  streams,  although  unsupported 
on  one  end. 

7.  The  only  mason  material  in  the  fire  that  did  not 
show  fractures  resulting  from  extremes  of  tem- 
perature. 

8.  Salvage  value  was  100%,  therefore,  the  best 
mason  material  for  any  owner  to  use,  irrespec- 
tive ot  cost,  and  the  least  expensive  from 
the  point  of  view  of  the  underwriters. 


The  same  qualities  that  made  the  unique  record  at  the  Tenafly  Fire  are  built 
into  every  Straub  Patented  Building  Block  made  under  the  Straub  Patents  and 

Process. 


155 


12  5- 


KA  U B (finder  c Building  BLOCKS 


INDICATED  WOOD  CONSTRUCTION- BVRNED  PORTION D110WN  HATCHED. 

. OAAD  COACEXTE.  WALL  -CRACKZD 

. BRICK  CHIMNEYO— CRACKED  AND  fAELXN 

. CLAY  TILE  COpJNq~AEL  CRACKED 

. JOLID  WALL.3  OT  STRAUB  CINDER,  BLOCK*. 

OTANDINq  INTACT- AO  CRACKO  OROpALLINQ. 
WOOD  CONSTRUCTION  WITH  YENEER_OF.5'STBAU&  CHIDES 
BLOCK*  ~ ON  FIRE  AT  WINDOWS  ONLY 
• STRAUB  CINDER  BLOCK  WALLS  WITH  BRICK  VENEER. 
OTANDINq  INTACT. 


INCS 


o 

O WASH1NQT0N  STREET 

T 


1 lie  above  diagram  illustrates  the  position  of  the  various  buildings  in  the 
fire  area,  together  with  the  position  of  the  business  section  of  Tenafly  relative  to 
this  area. 


1 he  results  of  the  Tenafly  tire  are  of  interest  to  everyone  engaged  in  build- 
ing construction.  Among  the  manv  authorities  who  visited  the  fire  were 
Mr.  Rudolph  P.  Mill  er,  the  author  of  New  York’s  Building  Code,  and  Consulting 
Engineer  of  the  Borough  of  Manhattan,  and  Mr.  E.  B.  Hopwood,  who  adjusted 
the  tire  loss  for  the  United  States  Insurance  Company.  Both  of  these  specialists 
were  so  impressed  by  the  resistance  of  the  Straub  Block  Walls  that  they  made 
inspections  on  several  different  occasions. 


156 


OFFICIAL  TESTS 


157 


XU 


. MERRILL.  President 
ROBINSON  ) 

DANA  PIERCE  Vice  Presidents 

A.  R SMALL  ) 

D B ANDERSON  , Secretary 
L.  B HEADEN  . Treasurer 


CH  1C  AGO.  207  E.  OH  IO  ST  . 

NEW  YORK.  25  CITY  HALL  PLACE 
BOSTON.  87  MILK  ST. 
PITTSBURGH,  324  FOURTH  AVE. 
AGENCIES  IN  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 
OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  ANDCANADA 


INCORPORATED  1901 
ESTABLISHED  AND  MAINTAINED  BYTHE 

IMDiralBoari)  d'Sire  UnMmiitets 

FOR  SERVICE- NOT  PROFIT 

207  EAST  OHIO  STREET.  CHICAGO 


Retardant  No.  1429 
July  10,  1922 
Report  on 

HOLLOW  CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  BLOCKS 


PLAN  OF  INVESTIGATION 

The  object  ot  the  investigation  was  primarily  to 
ascertain  the  fire  retardant  properties  of  Straub 
Blocks  as  employed  in  the  construction  of  walls. 
The  tests  which  afforded  information  relating  to  fire 
resistance  of  the  material  were  supplemented  by 
other  tests  and  examinations  intended  to  show  the 
composition  of  the  material  and  to  afford  data  for 
purposes  of  identification;  the  compressive  strength 
of  the  blocks;  the  effects  of  saturation  with  water 
and  subsequent  freezing  and  thawing;  the  practic- 
ability of  handling  and  shipping  the  blocks;  the 
procedure  to  be  followed  in  constructing  a wall;  the 
effect  of  the  application  of  a hose  stream  to  a speci- 
men wall  that  had  been  exposed  to  fire;  and  the 
effect  ot  a falling  beam  or  column  upon  the  same 
specimen  wall. 

EXAMINATION  AND  TEST  RECORD 
EXAMINATION  OF  MATERIALS 

Description  of  Samples.  The  sample  employed 
in  this  examination  comprised  specimens  of  crushed 
cinders  and  a half-carload  shipment  of  approxi- 
mately 700  blocks  from  the  plant  of  the  York- 
Patented  Building  Block  Company. 

Method.  The  ground  cinders  were  examined 
visually  and  the  fineness  of  grinding  was  determined 
by  means  of  sieves  with  graduated  sizes  of  mesh. 
Chemical  analyses  were  made  to  determine  the  total 
sulphur  content  and  the  amount  of  unburned  coal 
and  coke. 

The  blocks  were  inspected  to  determine  whether 
they  had  incurred  damage  in  shipment  from  York, 
Pa.,  to  Chicago  and  at  Underwriters’  Laboratories 
after  the  blocks  had  been  delivered  by  truck. 

The  blocks  were  examined  to  afford  information 
regarding  their  general  appearance  and  texture, 
their  weights  and  their  dimensions. 

Results.  The  cinders,  which  were  stated  to  he 
ordinary  run-of-boiler  product,  resulting  from  the 
more  or  less  complete  burning  of  soft  coal,  were  a 
mixture  of  material  ot  varying  grades  of  fineness, 
ranging  from  dust  that  would  pass  a 100-mesh  sieve 
to  pieces  that  would  just  pass  a J Tin.  screen. 
Approximately  40  percent  by  weight  passed  a 20- 
mesh  screen.  I he  presence  of  a considerable  amount 
ot  unburned  carbon  was  apparent  on  visual  examina- 
tion. Chemical  analysis  showed  the  presence  of 
sulphur  amounting  to  about  0.7  percent  of  the  dry 
weight  ot  the  cinders,  and  of  coal  and  coke  amount- 
ing to  between  IS  and  19  percent. 

The  700  blocks  examined  in  a Chicago  freight 
house  after  shipment  from  York,  Pa.,  were  un- 
damaged, except  as  follows: — One  block  broken 
into  two  pieces,  10  blocks,  each  with  one  or  more 
corners  chipped.  After  delivery  by  truck  at  Under- 
writers’ Laboratories,  10  additional  blocks  were 
found  to  he  damaged  slightly  at  their  corners. 


The  blocks  were  of  a dull,  slate-gray  color,  and 
of  the  rough,  pitted  texture  characteristic  ot  lean 
cinder  concrete.  The  particles  of  cinder  aggregate 
appeared  to  be  completely  covered  by  the  cement. 
Rough  handling  of  the  dry  blocks  caused  the  separa- 
tion of  small  particles  from  the  surfaces,  but  no 
ordinary  rough  usage  caused  breakage. 

Nails  were  driven  into  the  blocks  without  diffi- 
culty. and  without  causing  spalling,  chipping  or 
cracking. 

The  average  gross  cross  sectional  area  of  the 
standard  blocks  was  approximately  128  sq.  in.;  the 
net  sectional  area  approximately  94  sq.  in;  the  ratio 
of  air  space  to  gross  area  was  about  27  percent. 

The  corresponding  values  for  the  halt  blocks  were 
approximately  64  sq.  in;  51  sq.  in.;  and  20  percent 
respectively. 

INSTALLATION  TESTS 

Method.  The  tests  comprised  the  erection  ot 
two  panels,  each  10  ft.  wide  by  11  ft.  high,  in  movable 
front  walls  of  Underwriters’  Laboratories’  Furnace 
No.  2. 

The  blocks  were  laid  by  the  submittor,  Mr.  F.  J. 
Straub,  who  is  an  experienced  bricklayer.  He  was 
assisted  by  two  helpers  from  the  Laboratories’  plant 
force. 

Results.  One  panel  was  completed  in  2 hr.,  30 
min.,  and  the  other  in  2 hr.,  33  min;  this  time  not 
including  that  required  for  erecting  scaffolding.  All 
blocks  were  laid  with  cells  vertical  and  with  joints 
broken,  only  lull-sized  and  half-size  blocks  being 
used  Blocks  which  did  not  fit  snugly  were  trimmed 
with  a small  hatchet  The  mortar  was  made  with 
one  part  of  portland  cement  and  three  parts  of  lake 
sand,  with  about  eight  percent  of  slaked  lime,  all 
measurements  being  by  volume.  Enough  water 
was  employed  to  make  a thin  mortar.  In  laying  the 
blocks  no  mortar  was  applied  to  the  webs,  and  no 
special  effort  was  made  to  apply  mortar  uniformly. 
Joints  which  were  apparently  not  well  formed  were 
subsequently  smoothed.  No  difficulty  was  ex- 
perienced in  handling  and  setting  the  blocks,  using 
the  tools  and  the  methods  ordinarily  employed  by 
bricklayers. 

The  appearance  of  the  completed  panels  is  illus- 
trated by  Figs.  1,  2,  and  3. 

FIRE  ENDURANCE  TEST 

Description  of  Sample.  The  test  was  made  on 
one  of  the  two  panels  described  under  the  heading 
Installation  Tests,  the  panel  being  28  days  old. 
The  sample  was  10  ft.  1 in.  wide  by  11  ft  3 in.  high. 
No  openings  were  apparent  at  the  edges  or  else- 
where. and  no  cracks  could  be  observed.  The 
general  appearance  was  that  of  a wall  built  without 
special  attention  to  neat  appearance  of  joints,  hut 
probablv  representing  the  average  conditions  in  m- 


159 


o 


Fid.  1 

Unexposetl  face  of  wall  before  test 


stallations  where  speed  in  erection  is  desired. 

Method.  I nderwriters’  Laboratories’  standard 
test  equipment  was  used. 

The  live  thermocouples  were  installed  on  a 
horizontal  plane  16  in.  above  the  center  of  the  panel, 
each  tip  being  within  a cell  and  capable  of  being 
moved  so  as  to  indicate  the  temperature  at  the 
center  ot  the  cell  or  the  temperature  on  the  inner 
surface  ot  the  exposed  wall  of  a particular  block. 
Three  thermocouples  were  installed  slightly  below 
the  horizontal  center  line  with  their  tips  embedded 
in  the  mortar  joints,  approximately  \'A  in.  from  the 
exposed  lace  ol  the  panel. 

The  wall  carrying  the  test  panel  was  drawn  into 
position  as  the  front  wall  of  the  furnace  and  the  fire 
started  The  exposed  lace  of  the  panel  was  sub- 
jected to  standardized  fire  conditions  in  which  the 
temperatures  rise  rapidly  to  1500°  F.  during  the 
first  30  min.,  to  approximately  1700°  in  1 hr.,  and 
continued  to  rise  gradually  until  the  end  of  the  test. 

The  test  was  continued  3 hr.  42  min.  after  which 
time  the  fire  was  extinguished  and  the  test  panel 
immediately  drawn  away  from  the  furnace  and 
allowed  to  cool. 

Throughout  the  test  and  after  its  conclusion 
observations  were  made  regarding  the  character  of 
the  fire,  the  temperatures  and  deflections  of  the 
sample,  and  all  developments  having  any  relation 
to  its  flame  retardance,  its  heat  insulation  and  its 
stability. 

RESULTS 

Observations  During  Test.  The  distribution 
of  the  fire  was  rather  irregular  during  the  first  hour, 
hut  was  uniform  in  the  later  portions  of  the  test. 
The  panel  showed  color  unevenly  in  patches  within 
10  min.,  the  patches  increasing  in  size  and  brightness 
until  at  the  end  ot  the  test  the  exposed  face  was 
uniformly  bright  red.  Betw-een  5 and  10  min.  small 
glowing  particles  were  thrown  oft  from  the  exposed 
face.  No  spalling  and  no  eraking  occurred  during 
the  test. 


On  the  unexposed  lace,  at  12  min.  steam  issued 
at  the  upper  edge  of  the  panel  and  at  several  vertical 
joints  between  blocks  in  the  upper  half  of  the  panel. 
At  25  min.  steam  issued  from  joints  in  the  lower 
hall.  The  issuance  of  steam  continued  for  approxi- 
mately two  hours.  At  25  min.  the  upper  half  was 
slightly  warm  to  the  touch;  at  35  min.  the  lower 
hall.  At  2 hr.,  15  min.  incandescent  material  could 
be  seen  by  looking  into  two  vertical  joints.  After 
3 hours  a similar  appearance  was  observed  at  four 
additional  vertical  joints. 

1 lie  panel  bulged  slightly  and  uniformly  toward 
the  fire,  the  maximum  bulging  on  the  vertical 
center  line  at  the  end  of  the  test  being  A in. 

On  the  unexposed  face,  one  thermometer  indicate^ 
300°  F.  at  2 hr.  5S  min.  The  average  reading  ot 
five  thermometers  reached  300°  F.  at  3 hr.  15  min 
After  the  furnace  fire  was  extinguished  at  3 hr.  42 
min.  and  the  panel  was  w ithdraw  n,  the  temperatures 
on  the  unexposed  face  continued  to  increase  to  a 
maximum  of  500  F.  in  4 hr.  20  min. 

Observations  After  Test.  At  the  end  of  the 
test,  and  alter  complete  cooling,  the  pane!  showed  no 
cracking,  spalling  or  other  structural  damage.  After 
cooling,  the  exposed  side  w as  of  a brown  color,  with 
numerous  black  dots. 


Ihe  appearance  ot  the  panel  alter  the  test  is 
illustrated  in  Figs.  2 and  3. 


Fig.  2 

F.xpose<l  face  of  wall  after  test 

FIRE  AND  HOSE  STREAM  TEST 


Description  of  Sample.  The  test  was  made  on 
one  of  the  two  panels  described  under  the  heading, 
“Installation  Tests”,  the  panel  being  a duplicate  of 
that  subjected  to  the  Fire  Endurance  Test.  It  was 
29  days  old. 

Method.  Underwriters’  Laboratories'  standard 
test  equipment  w'as  used 

The  sample  was  subjected  to  the  standard  fire 
test  for  60  min;  it  w'as  then  drawn  away  from  the 
furnace  and  a lyi  in.  hose  stream  from  a 1 '/i  in 
mzzle  was  applied  to  the  heated  face  for  5 min. 

The  stream  was  applied  from  a position  20  ft. 
distant  and  opposite  the  center  of  the  panel.  It 
was  directed  first  at  the  center  and  then  at  all  parts 


160 


of  the  exposed  tace,  changes  in  the  direction  of  the 
stream  being  made  slowly.  The  pressure  at  the 
base  of  the  nozzle  was  SO  lbs 

During  exposure  to  fire  the  usual  observations 
were  made.  After  the  application  of  the  hose 
stream  observations  were  made  to  determine  the 
condition  of  the  materials  resulting  from  the  im- 
pact, pressure  and  rapid  cooling  due  to  the  stream. 

RESULTS 

Observations  During  Test.  The  distribution 
of  the  fire  was  somewhat  irregular  and  variable 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  test,  but  was  uniform 
at  the  end  of  60  min.  In  3 min.  small  jets  of  burning 
gas  came  from  the  side  exposed  to  fire  and  in  5 min. 
small  glowing  particles  were  observed  on  various 
portions  of  this  face.  Slight  color  developed  in  the 
central  portion  in  10  min.  and  all  parts  of  the  sample 
except  the  south  3 ft.  were  a fairly  uniform  dull  red, 
the  color  increasing  gradually  untiltheendof  the  test. 

No  spalling,  cracking,  or  other  structural  damage 
was  observed  on  either  face. 

Observations  After  Test.  After  the  applica- 
tion of  the  hose  stream  the  panel  was  still  in  position, 
no  blocks  having  been  displaced,  and  none  showing 
any  cracking  or  spalling  or  any  damage  other  than 
erosion.  The  maximum  amount  of  erosion  occurred 
slightly  above  the  horizontal  center  line  and  about 
3 ft.  from  the  north  edge,  wThere  on  two  blocks  the 
material  had  been  washed  away  to  a depth  of  1 
in.  The  erosion  was  rather  general,  but  not 
uniform  in  the  north  three  quarters;  only  slight 
damage  of  this  sort  was  observed  in  the  south 
quarter.  The  stream  washed  away  some  of  the 
mortar  in  the  joints  at  all  parts  of  the  exposed  face, 
forming  a through  opening  Tt  in-  wide  and  8 in. 
long  between  two  blocks  in  the  north  quarter.  No 
other  through  openings  were  formed. 


Fig.  3 

Unexposed  face  of  wall  after  test 


Fig.  4 

Method.  The  movable  wall  carrying  the  test 
panel  was  blocked  so  that  it  could  not  swing,  and 
was  twice  subjected  to  the  impact  of  a steel  and  con- 
crete member  16  ft.  6 in.  long,  mounted  vertically 
on  a hinge  base,  and  designed  so  that  when  released 
it  would  swing  in  a vertical  arc  with  its  hinged  base 
as  a center,  the  upper  end  of  the  member  striking 
the  test  panel  at  about  its  middle  point.  Fig.  4 
illustrates  the  appearance  of  the  upper  portion  of 
the  swinging  member  and  indicates  its  position  at 
the  moment  of  contact  with  the  panel.  The  weight 
of  the  member  was  approximately  2500  lb.  Its 
original  distance  from  the  panel  was  approximately 
14  ft.  The  general  effect  of  the  test  was  intended 
to  he  representative  of  the  effect  of  structural  mem- 
bers falling  against  a wall  during  or  after  a fire. 

For  purposes  of  identification  each  course  of 
blocks  was  designated  by  a letter  as  shown  in  Fig. 
4.  In  each  course  the  individual  blocks  were  num- 
bered from  north  to  south. 

Results.  The  effect  of  the  first  impact  is  shown 
in  Figs.  4 and  5.  The  end  of  the  swinging  mem- 
ber struck  the  panel  midway  of  Course  G.  It  rup- 
tured blocks  locally  so  that  a through  opening  was 
formed  about  20  in.  high  and  with  width  equal  to 
the  width  of  the  swinging  member,  or  15  in.  In  tin- 
immediate  neighborhood  of  the  through  opening 
other  blocks  were  damaged  as  shown  in  fig.  5. 
In  all  9 blocks  were  injured  to  a greater  or  less  extent. 
No  other  blocks  were  affected  and  the  stability  of 
the  wall  as  a whole  was  apparently  not  impaired. 

The  second  impact  enlarged  the  damaged  por- 
tions so  that  on  the  exposed  face  it  involved  a total 
of  3 courses  in  height  and  16  to  18  in  in  width,  the 
damaged  portion  on  the  unexposed  tace  being  8 
courses  high  and  about  2 ft.  wide.  No  damage  was 
done  to  blocks  not  immediately  adjacent  to  the 
main  ruptured  portion  and  the  stability  of  the  wall 
as  a whole  was  apparently  not  impaired. 


IMPACT  TEST 

Description  of  Sample.  The  test  was  made 
upon  the  panel  that  had  already  been  subjected  to 
the  Fire  and  Hose  Stream  Test,  the  sample  having 
been  undisturbed  for  6 days  after  that  test. 


CONCLUSIONS 

Fire  Retardant  Properties.  Straub  cinder 
concrete  blocks  constructed  of  the  materials  and  by 
the  methods  described  in  this  report,  can  be  em- 
ployed for  the  construction  of  exterior  or  interior 


161 


Fig.  5 

walls,  bearing  or  non-bearing,  which  when  exposed 
to  fire  on  either  side  will  prevent  the  passage  of 
flame  through  the  wall  and  (unction  as  a barrier  to 
the  spread  o(  fire  by  heat  conduction  for  at  least 
I'/i  hours.  Application  of  a hose  stream  to  either 
side  of  the  wall  during  the  first  hour  of  fire  exposure- 
will  not  seriously  impair  its  fire  resistance. 

No  flame  passage  occurred  during  the  fire  En- 
durance Test  and  no  through  openings  were  found. 
The  critical  temperature  of  300c  F.  was  reached  on 
the  unexposed  face  at  2 hr.  58  min. 

Practicability.  The  blocks  may  be  shipped  in 
bulk  without  material  injury.  I hey  may  be  handled 
without  difficulty  and  installed  rapidly  by  any  com- 
petent bricklayer  using  ordinary  tools. 

In  a half-carload  shipment  of  the  blocks  from 
York,  Pa.,  to  a Chicago  freight  house,  and  thence 
by  truck  to  the  Laboratories,  the  amount  of  damage 
to  the  blocks  was  negligible. 

Each  of  the  two  10  by  11-ft.  test  walls  erected  at 
the  Laboratories  was  completed  in  about  2 JT  hours. 

Durability.  The  blocks  are  capable  of  with- 
standing long-continued  exposure  to  weather  con- 
ditions without  material  deviation. 

Specimen  blocks  were  subjected  to  a rather  exten- 
sive series  of  tests  involving  saturation,  freezing, 
thawing  and  drying.  No  visible  deterioration  w-as 
caused  by  any  of  these  tests.  Compression  tests 
made  of  the  blocks  subjected  five  times  to  satura- 
tion, freezing  and  thawing,  and  then  three  times  to 
saturation  and  drying,  showed  an  average  crushing 
strength  of  750  lb.  per  sq.  in.  and  a minimum  of  580 
lb.  per  sn.  in.  of  the  gross  sectional  area.  These 
values  may  be  compared  with  the  average  of  815 
lb.  per  sq.  in.  and  the  minimum  of  650  lb.  per  sq.  in. 
the  case  of  blocks  that  had  not  been  saturated.  It 
is  believed  that  these  differences  are  not  significant 
in  view  of  the  characteristic  variations  in  compres- 
sive strength  commonly  shown  by  tests  of  concrete 
products. 

Strength.  The  strength  of  the  blocks  is  suffi- 
cient to  warrant  their  use  in  bearing  or  non-bearing 
walls,  within  the  limitations  commonly  recognized 
as  applying  to  materials  of  this  character. 

In  general  concrete  blocks  are  considered  suitable 
only  for  buildings  of  moderate  height  and  with  types 


of  floor  construction  and  of  occupancy  that  wdll 
impose  loads  on  the  wall  well  within  safe  limits  for 
Straub  Blocks. 

It  is  believed  that  there  is  not  thus  far  any  gener- 
ally accepted  specification  regarding  the  crushing 
strength  of  cinder  concrete  blocks.  The  building 
Code  recommended  by  the  National  Board  of  Fire 
Underwriters’  states  that  “the  average  compressive 
strength  for  concrete  blocks  when  tested  with  the 
cells  vertical,  shall  be  not  less  than  800  lb.  per  sq. 
in.”  The  blocks  forming  the  subject  of  this  report 
bad  an  average  crushing  strength  of  815  lb.  per  sq.  in. 

The  effects  of  the  Impact  Test  were  purely  local. 

Uniformity.  The  blocks  can  be  produced  com- 
mercially with  the  degree  of  uniformity  sufficient 
for  the  purposes  for  which  the  material  is  intended. 

The  dimensions  of  the  blocks  are  determined  by 
the  dimensions  of  the  forms  in  wdiich  they  are  cast. 
The  density  and  the  compressive  strength  are  sub- 
jected to  variation  w'ithin  rather  wide  limits.  In  the 
case  of  the  blocks  employed  in  the  examinations  and 
tests  described  in  this  report,  all  being  the  product 
of  the  same  plant,  examination  of  12  blocks  showed 
weights  varying  from  16  to  25  per  cent.  Compres- 
sion tests  showed  ultimate  crushing  strength  vary- 
ing from  650  to  1140  lb.  per  sq.  in.  of  gross  sectional 
area.  The  cinders  employed  in  the  mixing  of  the 
concrete  w'ere  of  rather  inferior  grade  with  18  to  19 
percent  combustible  material,  the  presence  of  un- 
burned coal  or  coke  being  evident  on  visual  examina- 
tion Approximately  40  percent  by  weight  of  the 
cinders  passed  a 20-mesh  sieve  1 he  results  of  the 
tests  made  on  blocks  employing  this  inferior  aggre- 
gate and  a rather  small  proportion  of  cement,  were 
so  favorable,  notwithstanding  the  variation  in  some 
important  properties,  as  to  justify  the  opinion 
that  the  variations  noted  are  within  permissable 
limits. 

RECOMMENDATION 

To  the  Fire  Council  of  Underwriters’  Labora- 
tories. We  recommend  promulgation  to  sub- 
scribers of  notice  in  the  following  form  and  the 
action  indicated  thereby,  whenever  the  product  of 
any  particular  factory  manufacturing  Straub  Blocks 
is  shown  by  Laboratories’  tests  and  investigations 
to  be  equivalent  to  the  product  whose  properties 
are  described  in  this  report. 

Guide  No.  40  UM2,  Julv  10,  1922 — Laboratories’ 
File  R.  1429. 

Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Blocks 
John  Doe,  Mfr., 

Address. 

Hollow  pattern  supplied  in  following  nominal  or 
trade  sizes  8 by  8 by  16  in;  8 by  8 by  8 in.  Solid 
pattern  supplied  in  4 by  8 by  16  in.  size. 
Eight-inch  exterior  and  interior  walls  or  partitions 
bearing  or  non-bearing,  constructed  of  these 
blocks  laid  in  Portland  cement  mortar,  have  a 
fire  retardant  classification  of  R2-jThr. 

Listed— Fire. 

Re-examination  Service.  See  description  of 
Re-examination  Service  on  guide  card. 

Tests  and  report  by:  Respectfully  submitted, 
Fitzhugh  Taylor  J.  B.  FINNEGAN, 

J.  B Finnegan  Associate  Engineer. 

M.  J.  O’Brien 
C.  H.  Pierson 
A.  E.  Maitre. 

The  foregoing  recommendation  has  been  accepted 
and  the  action  proposed  therein  has  been  taken, 
September  12,  1922. 

UNDERWRITERS’  LABORATORIES. 

D.  B.  ANDERSON,  Secretary. 

NOTE. — The  above  is  a condensed  report  of  the  National 
Board  of  Fire  Underwriters.  The  complete  report  may  he 
obtained  by  application  to  any  plant  operating  under  Straub 
patents. 


162 


Ohio  State  University  Test 

Heavy  Test  Loads  on  Hollow  Cinder  Block  Floor 

Slabs  Cause  Slight  Permanent  Deflection. 

1 ests  conducted  on  three  hollow  cinder  block 
floors  constructed  in  a manner  similar  to  what  is 
spoken  of  as  hollow  rile  construction,  with  hollow 
cinder  block  occupying  the  same  position  that  the 
terra-cotta  tile  does,  resulted  in  slight  permanent 
deflection  in  the  slabs  under  loading  much  in  excess 
ot  the  computed  allowable  live  loads.  I he  tests 
illustrated  in  the  accompanying  figures  were  made 
by  |.  R.  Shank,  professor  ot  civil  engineering,  Ohio 
State  University,  on  test  floors  poured  December 
15,  1923,  inside  ol  one  ot  the  buildings  of  the  Indian- 
apolis Switch  & Frog  Co.,  at  Springfield,  Ohio. 
The  tests  were  made  to  determine  the  strength  of 
slabs  constructed  according  to  tbe  Mcllroy  fireproof 
floor  system,  invented  by  William  Mcllroy,  Spring- 
field,  Ohio. 

A few  advantages  of  the  hollow  cinder  block  floors 
are  cited  by  Mr.  Mcllroy  as  follows:  Minimum 
simple  forms;  if  forms  are  level,  no  other  leveling  is 
necessary,  as  the  blocks  are  all  true  to  size  and  shape 
and  do  not  warp;  sleepers  can  be  nailed  into  the 
blocks  with  ordinary  nails  before  the  beams  are 
poured;  no  cinder  fill  required;  less  plaster  on  ceiling 
and  no  lath;  fixtures,  shafting  or  suspended  ceiling 
can  be  fastened  to  the  underside  with  ordinary  nails, 
screws  or  lags  and  they  will  hold;  from  24  to  40  lb. 
dead  weight  per  sq.  ft.,  can  be  eliminated,  and  more 
live  load  carried  at  less  cost  than  any  other  fireproof 
floor;  it  is  a better  fire  and  water  resistant,  sound 
deadener  and  insulator,  and  has  splendid  acoustic 
qualities,  as  proved  in  buildings  erected  by  the 
inventor. 

In  the  case  of  the  test  floors,  the  cinder  blocks 
were  placed  with  their  ends  supported  on  planks 
which  formed  the  bottom  forms  for  the  reinforced 
concrete  beams.  The  ends  of  the  cinder  blocks 
acted  as  the  side  forms  for  the  reinforced  concrete 
beams.  Fig.  1 shows  the  test  floor  No.  II  read}'  for 
the  test  load.  Fig.  3 shows  the  under  side  ot  this 
test  floor  after  it  had  been  tested.  F ig.  3 also  shows 
a sectional  diagram  illustrating  the  arrangement  ot 
the  cinder  blocks  with  respect  to  the  concrete  beams. 

Tbe  concrete  work  on  these  test  slabs  was  done  in 
the  usual  manner  employed  in  building  construction. 
No  extra  effort  was  exerted  to  have  a laboratory 
concrete  or  even  a good  grade  of  construction  con- 
crete. A slump  test,  according  to  the  methods  sug- 
gested by  tbe  American  Society  for  Testing  Mater- 
ials and  the  material  going  into  test  floor  No.  Ill 
gave  a slump  ot  8 in.,  indicating  a wet  consistency 
Concrete  in  test  floor  No.  II  had  a slump  ot  5 }/i  in. 

The  proportions  used  were  1:2:4;  the  sand  used 
being  a local  sand,  well  graded  but  somewhat  dirty, 
and  the  gravel  being  graded  rather  fine,  much  of  it 
ranging  between  '4  in.  and  '2  in.,  with  considerable 
sand  between  34s  in  and  % in.  The  maximum  size 
was  3<t  in.  A standard  brand  of  cement  was  used, 
and  the  steel  reinforcing  was  ot  mild  billet  steel  such 
as  ordinarily  used  for  reinforcing  concrete. 


Fig.  1 

Test  floor  No.  II  ready  for  test  load 


Fiji.  2 Floor  No.  II  under  test 


Fiji.  3 The  same  test  floor  with  sectional  diagram 
showing  arrangement  of  the  block  and  concrete  beams 


Fig . 5 Test  floor  No.  I 


Fiji-  6 

Test  floor  No.  I 


Fid.  7 

Test  floor  No.  I 


: ■ 


Fid.  8 

Test  floor  No.  1 1 1 


Fig.  <) 

l est  floor  No.  Ill  showing  the  heam  unbroken  under  load 
of  63,000  pounds 


A test  cylinder,  6 in.  in  diameter  by  12  in.,  was 
made  from  the  concrete  going  into  each  floor.  These 
cylinders  were  made  in  steel  forms  and  were  stored 
with  the  test  floors  from  the  time  of  pouring  until  the 
date  immediately  preceding  the  breaking.  At  the 
time  of  making  the  test  floors,  two  blocks  of  con- 
crete were  poured  from  the  material  in  test  floor  No. 


II,  using  one  of  the  cinder  block  as  forms.  These 
two  block  were  broken  on  the  same  date  as  the  test 
cylinders  poured  in  the  steel  forms,  the  object  being 
to  see  if  cinder  block  had  any  effect  on  the  strength 
of  the  adjoining  concrete.  All  rest  cylinders  were 
broken  at  Brown  Hall,  Ohio  State  University,  and 
showed  rather  wfide  variation,  although  the  appear- 
ance of  the  concrete  as  it  went  into  the  forms  did 
not  change  much.  The  concrete  was  made  dryer  as 
the  work  progressed.  The  variation  in  water 
content,  as  evidenced  by  the  slump  of  8 in.  for  floor 
No.  Ill  and  Syi  in.  for  No.  II,  showed  up  in  the  test 
results  in  the  accompanying  table. 


Test 

Unit 

6 in.  Dia.  x 12  in.  cylinders 

Load 

Strength 

lbs. 

lb.  per 

From  test  floor  No.  I 

71,600 

sq.  in. 
2,530 

From  test  floor  No.  II  

47,400 

1 ,675 

From  test  floor  No  III 

36,300 

1,282 

Concrete  from  test  floor 

No.  II,  Molded  in  cin.  block. 

36,580 

Av.  1,829 

2,205 

Cross-section  16.57  sq.  in..  . . 

38,100 

2,300 

Concrete  Block 

126.5  sq.  in.  gross 

121,150 

Av.  2,252 

960 

91 .8  sq.  in.  net 

121,150 

1,320 

Ir  is  stated  in  the  report  that  the  increase  in  the 
strength  of  concrete  poured  into  the  cinder  block 
mold  over  that  of  the  same  hatch  poured  into  the 
steel  mold  probably  explains  some  of  the  high 
strength  attained  bv  the  floors.  Apparently  the 
cinder  block  took  up  considerable  of  the  excess  water. 
It  was  noted  during  the  pouring  that  there  was  no 
wTater  drip  under  the  floor,  the  cinder  block  absorb- 
ing all  the  excess  water.  In  removing  the  cinder 
block  mold  from  the  test  pieces  molded  in  them,  the 
toughness  of  the  cinder  block  was  noted.  A cold 
chisel  could  be  driven  into  the  cinder  concrete  an 
inch  or  more  before  the  w'edge  action  would  split  off 
a portion.  This  bond  to  the  cinder  concrete  is  more 
clearly  shown  in  Figs.  3 and  4.  When  removing  the 
test  floor  No.  II  after  it  had  been  loaded,  a hole  was 
made  through  one  of  the  cinder  blocks  through 
which  a chain  was  passed.  The  test  floor  was  lifted 
bodily  and  carried  2 or  3 ft.  when  the  break  formed, 
as  showm  in  Fig.  4. 

The  test  floors  and  compression  specimens  were 
allowed  to  set  and  harden  a longer  time  than  28  days 
on  account  of  the  coldness  of  the  weather.  The  test 
floors  w'ere  covered  over  wflth  planks  and  shavings 
during  the  setting  period,  bur  there  wTas  no  artificial 
heat  applied.  The  salamanders  w'ere  placed  only 
the  night  before  tests  w'ere  conducted  to  make  it 
more  comfortable  for  the  spectators.  The  tempera- 
ture at  times  registered  below  zero. 

TEST  FLOOR  NO.  II 

Test  floor  No.  II  w*as  made  up  of  four  rectangular 
beams  with  cinder  blocks  between.  Details  of  con- 
struction are  shown  in  Fig.  10.  The  material  used 
for  the  loading  was  wre)ding  iron  crated  for  shipment 
in  crates  whose  total  w-eight  wras  525  lb.  The  crates 
were  laid  as  shown  in  Fig  2.  Deflections  wTere 
measured  from  a hook  driven  into  the  under  part 
of  the  cinder  block  at  the  middle  of  the  span  to 
a brass  wire  tightly  stretched  from  a support  off  one 
side  of  the  test  floor  to  another  on  the  other  side 
just  under  the  hook.  The  wall  under  the  test  floor 
near  the  center  was*placed  as  a protection  feature, 
not  being  in  contact  with  the  test  floor  at  any  time. 


164 


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Cross  Seel  ion  of  Test  Floor  No.  II 

The  clear  span  between  supports  was  IS  ft.  The 
end  supporting  walls  were  13  in.  thick  and  the  load- 
ing was  placed  out  nearly  to  the  backs  ot  the  sup- 
porting walls. 

The  load  actually  placed  on  the  test  Boor  am- 
ounted to  19,950  lb.  with  the  8 men  added  at  160  lb. 
each,  the  total  load  would  be  21,230  lb.  Reduced 
to  an  equivalent  uniform  load  based  on  the  bending 
moments  at  the  center,  the  loading  would  be,  with- 
out including  the  men,  1,657  lb.  per  lin.  ft.  which 
would  be  311  lb.  per  sq.  ft.  1 be  total  load  per  lin. 
It.,  including  the  dead  load  was  370  lb.  per  sq.  ft. 
producing  a bending  moment  ot  57,100  lb.  ft  which 
is  360%  of  the  computed  working  resisting  moment, 
using  n as  15  in  the  straight  line  formula  and  con- 
sidering the  top  steel  in  compression.  The  excellent 
bond  between  the  cinder  blocks  and  the  concrete, 
evidently  caused  the  blocks  to  furnish  added 
strength  to  the  concrete  beams  in  resisting  the 
bending. 

The  maximum  deflection  under  various  degrees  of 
loading  was  0.856  in.  A deflection  of  1 in  360  oc- 
curred at  an  equivalant  uniform  loading  of  1,045  lb. 
per  lin.  ft.  or  196  lb.  per  sq.  ft.  which  is  350%  in 
excess  of  the  computed  allowable  live  load.  After 
the  live  load  had  all  been  taken  off,  a permanent 
deflection  of  about  1/10  of  an  inch  remained. 

TESTS  OF  FLOOR  No.  1 

Floor  No.  I shown  in  Figs.  5,  6 and  7 and  in  detail 
in  Fig.  11  was  of  the  T-beam  style  of  construction 
with  wood  sleepers  placed  above  the  middle  of  each 
row  of  cinder  block  which  would  be  used  in  con- 
struction to  carry  the  floor.  The  same  kind  of  cinder 
block  were  used  as  in  test  floor  No.  II,  making  the 
test  floor  8 in.  x 2 in.  with  a width  of  Tee  of  1 3 ^4  in. 
and  a thickness  of  2 in.  The  material  used  for  load- 
ing was,  in  general,  the  same  as  in  test  floor  No.  II. 
The  deflections  were  measured  in  the  same  manner 
as  for  test  floor  No.  II  and  two  protection  walls  were 
placed  under  the  slab  as  it  was  intended  to  break 
this  floor.  It  was  not  possible  to  load  this  floor  to 
destruction  as  the  crane  would  not  lift  any  higher 
than  the  top  row  of  crates  shown  in  Fig.  7. 


Fig.  11 

Cross  Section  of  Test  Floor  No.  I 

The  spans  used  were  15  ft.  8 in.,  being  the  dis" 
tance  from  center  to  center  of  end  concrete  pieces- 
The  end  supporting  walls  appeared  to  stay  with  the 
test  floor  during  its  deflection.  The  load  that  was 
actually  placed  on  the  test  floor  after  making  all 


proper  deduction  was  60,000  lb.  I he  uniform  load 
per  lin.  fr.  on  this  basis  would  be  3,830  ft.  lb.  or  load 
per  sq.  ft.  ol  719  lb.  1 bis  is  495%  ot  the  computed 
allowable  live  load.  If  the  dead  load  bending 
moment  be  added  to  that  of  the  actually  loaded 
live  load,  the  result  would  be  a total  ot  130,850  It. 
lb.  or  354%  ot  the  resisting  moment  computed  on 
the  basis  ot  700  lb.  persq.  in.  on  the  concrete. 

1 he  maximum  fibre  stress  on  the  concrete  would 
be  approximately,  1,950  lb.  per  sq.  in.,  computed 
according  to  parabolic  variation.  1 he  stress  shown 
in  the  test  cylinder  made  from  the  same  material  as 
this  test  floor  was  2,530  lb.  per  sq.  in.  and  the 
average  ot  the  three  was  1,829.  This  test  floor  was 
designed  without  any  excess  steel  in  the  bottom. 
The  fibre  stress  in  this  steel,  as  is  usually  computed, 
would  run  over  50,000  per  sq.  in.  This  seems  to 
indicate  a rather  unusual  assistance  being  given  to 
the  tension  steel.  The  cracks  which  formed  under 
the  heavy  loading  were  always  at  the  joints  between 
the  cinder  block,  which  tends  to  show  that  the  cin- 
der block  did  assist  at  least  between  these  joints. 

The  total  deflection  tor  this  test  floor  was  0.900  in. 
It  was  impossible  to  finish  loading  the  test  floor  on 
the  date  started  on  account  of  lack  of  time.  The 
load  which  showed  a deflection  of  0.5  in.  was  allowed 
to  stand  for  the  entire  week  and  the  remainder  of 
the  loading  was  done  one  week  later.  The  total 
deflection  on  Feb.  2,  the  later  date,  was  0.628  in., 
showing  a settlement  of  0.218  in.  due  to  flow  in  the 
concrete.  When  all  of  the  live  load  was  removed 
the  beam  came  back  Sg  in.  This  made  a permanent 
set  of  .275  in.  with  the  flow.  If  the  flow  be  deducted 
the  comeback  would  be  .147  or  a little  over  *4  in. 

TEST  FLOOR  NO.  III. 

Test  floor  No.  Ill  is  shown  in  Figs.  8 and  9 and 
in  detail  in  Fig.  12.  The  depth  ot  the  beam  is  12  in., 
the  width  of  each  rectangular  beam  5 in.  and  the 
clear  span  20  ft.,  the  width  of  each  block  being  16  in. 
The  block  contained  some  sand  as  is  demanded  at 
Detroit  where  the  block  were  made.  These  block 
were  brought  in  from  the  outside  because  12-in. 
cinder  block  were  not  available  locally  at  the  time. 


6#  J 

O 

V 0 J 

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Fig.  12 

Cross  Section  of  Test  Floor  No.  Ill 


There  were  also  round  continuous  stirrups 

used  with  verticals  spaced  6/T  in.  from  the  end  of  the 
clear  span,  then  14  in.,  then  15  in.  at  each  end  and 
in  all  rectangular  beams.  The  working  span  was 
taken  as  20  ft.  8 in. 

The  load  that  was  actually  placed  on  the  test  floor 
both  dead  and  live  load,  was  3,276  lb.  per  lin.  ft. 
causing  a maximum  fibre  stress  in  the  concrete  of 
2,245  lb.  per  sq.  in.,  computed  by  the  parabolic 
method  of  2990  lb.  per  sq.  in.  computed  by  the 
straight  line  method.  This  is  427%  of  the  allowable 
load  at  600  lb.  per  sq.  in.  The  test  cylinder  in  this 
case  gave  a unit  stress  of  only  1,282  lb.  per  sq.  in. 
The  total  deflection  for  this  test  floor  was  1.208  in. 


165 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY 
Testing  Laboratories 
New  York  City 
Report  of 

Freezing  and  Thawing  Tests  Made  Upon 
Cinder  Concrete  Tiles 
Submitted  bv 
CINDER  TILE  COMPANY 
120  West  42d  Street 
New  York  City 

Report  No.  1448  December  2,  1924. 

General. — The  material  submitted  and  tested  as 
hereinafter  described  consists  of: 

1 — 8 x 8 x 16  Cinder  Concrete  Tile. 

1 — 8 x 12  x 16  Cinder  Concrete  Tile. 

1 — 8 x 8 x 16  Semi-solid  Cinder  Concrete  Tile. 

These  tiles  were  taken  from  a lot  selected  and 
marked  by  the  Bureau  ot  Buildings,  City  of  New 
York,  represented  by  Mr.  Heatley,  Borough  of 
Bronx.  The  remainder  of  this  lot  had  previously 
been  tested  on  September  23rd,  1924,  in  the  presence 
of  representatives  ot  the  Bureau  of  Buildings,  City 


of  New  York.  All  material  mentioned  was  sub- 
mitted by  the  Cinder  Tile  Company,  120  West  42nd 
Street,  New  York  City,  represented  by  Mr.  E.  B. 
Corbet. 

Method  of  Test.  I he  three  above  mentioned 
specimens  were  dried  to  constant  weight  and  im- 
mersed in  water.  Fours  hours  after  which  they 
were  placed  in  a refrigerator  maintained  at  a tem- 
perature ot  6°  F.  and  allowed  to  remain  for  twenty- 
three  hours.  They  were  then  removed  and  placed 
for  one  hour  in  water  having  a temperature  of  150°F. 
At  the  end  of  this  thawing  period,  the  specimens 
were  again  placed  in  the  refrigerator  and  frozen  as 
above  and  again  thawed,  thus  causing  the  tile  to  be 
alternately  frozen  and  thawed  once  every  twenty- 
four  hours.  The  test  consisted  of  twenty  such 
alternate  freezings  and  thawings.  At  the  end  of 
this  freezing  test  the  specimens  were  again  dried  to 
constant  weight  and  the  compressive  strength 
determined. 

Results  of  Test.  The  tabulations  shown  below 
give  the  results  of  the  freezing  and  thawing  tests. 


Laboratory  Test  Nc 
Specification 


Compressive  Strength  After  Freezing 

28549 

8 x 12  x 16 


Length,  in 

Width,  in 

Height,  in 

Area,  sq.  in 

Maximum  Load,  lb 

Ult.  Strength  lbs.  sq.  in.  after  freezing. 

Compressive  Strength  lbs.  sq.  in 

Per  cent  change  in  Str 


16.00 
12.10 
8.05 
193.5 
294700 
1529 
1 152 1 

32.6%  gain 


28551 
x 8 x 16 


15.90 
8.05 
8.50 
128.00 
143850 
1123 
91 5 f 

22.7%  gain 


28794 
8x8x16 
Header  back-up 
15.75 
8.00 
8.00 
126.0 
120080 
951 
818  * 

16.25  % gain 


fNOTE — These  values  obtained  from  Laboratory  tests  Nos.  27544,  27545,  27546,  of  September  23,  1924  - 
♦NOTE — This  value  obtained  from  Laboratory  tests  Nos.  27517-19,  27538040,  27524-26,  27524-26  of 
September  23,  1924. 


Witnesses.  I hese  tests  were  witnessed  by  the  following  representatives: 

Mr.  T.  Heatley,  Bureau  of  Buildings,  Borough  of  Bronx,  Mr.  J.  D.  Marder,  Bureau  of  Buildings, 
Borough  of  Manhattan,  Mr.  A.  B.  Comins,  Bureau  of  Buildings,  Borough  of  Richmond,  Mr.  J.  Bracken, 
Bureau  ot  Buildings,  Borough  ot  Brooklyn  and  \lr.  E.  B.  Corbet,  Cinder  lile  Company,  Inc. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

TESTING  LABORATORIES, 

per 

(Signed)  W.  J.  KREFELD, 
Engineer  of  Tests. 


PITTSBURGH  TESTING  LABORATORY 
Established  1881 

Inspecting  Engineers  and  Chemists 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Report  of  Test  of  Cinder  Concrete  Block 
for 

MR.  F.  J.  STRAUB,  NEW  KENSINGTON,  PA. 

On  December  11th,  1923,  Mr.  F.  J.  Straub,  in  m\r 
presence  removed  a cinder  concrete  building  block 
from  the  outside  foundation  wall  of  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Yoder,  215  Charles  Avenue,  New  Kensington, 
Pa.  This  house  had  been  built  tor  seven  years.  The 
block  selected  was  an  average  block.  It  was  taken 
from  a point  in  the  wall  3.5  feet  below  the  surface 
of  the  ground.  Although  the  earth  in  contact  with 
the  block  was  quite  wet  from  recent  rains,  there  was 
no  indication  of  moisture  on  the  inside  face  of  the 
block.  It  might  also  be  stated  that  there  were  no 
signs  of  moisture  anywhere  on  the  inside  faces  of 
the  foundation  walls. 

Tests  of  the  block  in  the  laboratory  gave  the  fol- 
lowing results: 


Compression  Tests 


Dimensions,  Inches 15.69  x 4.0  x 8.0 

Area,  Sq.  In 62.75 

Crushing  Load,  Pounds 45280 

Crushing  Strength,  lbs.  per  sq.  in 721 


NOTE — Block  cut  in  half  lengthwise  for  crushing 
test  as  back  side  of  block  was  damaged  in  removing 
it  from  the  wall. 

Chemical  Analysis  ’(See  Footnote) 

The  proportions  of  cement  and  cinders  calculated 
from  a chemical  analysis  of  the  specimen  of  block 
are  as  follows: 

Cement-1  part  | By  weight 
Cinders — 7 parts  ) 

The  proportion  of  cement  by  volume  would  be 
smaller  than  by  weight  and  would  not  be  richer  than 
1 part  of  cement  to  9 parts  of  cinder. 

PITTSBURGH  TESTING  LABORATORY. 

F.  H.  Wood. 

Engineer  of  Tests. 

’All  licensees  under  Straub  Patents  are  required  to 
use  a 1 to  6 mix,  instead  of  the  1 to  9 mix  mentioned 
above.  The  remarkable  results  instanced  are  ac- 
cordingly increased  by  a 50%  stronger  mix,  resulting 
in  blocks  of  greater  density  and  moisture  resistance 


166 


RUTGERS  COLLEGE 

and  the 

STATE  UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW  JERSEY 
New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey 

Department  of  Civil  Engineering 

November  9fh,  1923. 

Hudson  Fireproof  Block  Co., 

Homestead,  North  Bergen,  N.  J. 

( lentlemen : 

Herewith  I take  pleasure  in  presenting  report 
ot  results  of  crushing  tests  made  on  three  (3) 
“Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Block"  submitted  by 
your  representative,  Mr.  \ incent  Copcutt.  It  is 
understood  that  these  tests  were  made  for  the  infor- 
mation of  the  Building  Department,  Citv  of  Plain- 
held,  N.  J. 

Each  specimen  was  of  standard  size,  8"  x 16“  x 8“, 
but  owing  to  the  limited  capacity  of  our  testing 
machine  (100,000  lbs.),  it  was  necessary  to  cut  the 
block  and  test  each  part  separately.  In  considera- 
tion ot  the  method  of  testing  in  this  case,  an  allow- 
ance ot  five  15)  per  cent,  has  been  added  to  the 
actual  crushing  load  applied  to  each  block. 

All  ot  the  blocks  tested  were  at  least  28  days  old. 
Gross  area  of  block,  128  sq.  ins.,  net  area  of  block, 
88  sq.  ins. 


A ctual 

Allowed 

Strength 

Strength 

Crushing 

Crushing 

per  sq.  in. 

per  sq.  in 

load  in 

load  in 

gross  area 

net  area 

pounds 

pounds 

1 10,080 

1 15,580 

903 

1314 

106,710 

112,045 

875 

1273 

140,690 

147,725 

1154 

1679 

Average  977 

1422 

\ erv  truly  yours, 

STUART  A.  STEPHENSON,  Jr. 
Assoc.  Professor  ot  Civil  Engineering. 
In  charge  of  Testing  Laboratory. 


PHILADELPHIA  & READING 
RAILWAY  COMPANY 
Office,  Assistant  Train  Master 

St.  Clair,  Pa.,  March  24,  1924 
Pottsville  Building  Block  Co.,  Pottsville,  Pa. 
Gentlemen : 

This  morning  I witnessed  a test  of  two  “Straub” 
blocks  that  were  brought  from  your  plant  at  Mount 
Carbon.  The  test  was  made  to  satisfy  myself  and 
others  ot  the  strength  of  the  block. 

Fbe  test  was  made  on  an  eight  inch  hydraulic 
ram,  the  block  resting  firmly  on  an  iron  base  per- 
fectly Hat  and  a steel  plate  laid  perfectly  flat  on  top 
ot  the  cinder  block,  the  ram  placed  against  the  block 
and  the  hydraulic  pressure  started. 

1 he  one  block  crushed  between  eight  and  nine 
hundred  pounds  to  the  square  inch. 

A second  test  was  made  with  another  block  and 
this  second  block  crushed  at  one  thousand  pounds 
to  the  square  inch,  or  with  twenty-five  ton  pressure. 

Upon  examining  the  two  blocks  after  the  test,  we 
concluded  that  the  block  that  crushed  at  eight  and 
nine  hundred  pounds  pressure,  was  a trifle  greener 
than  the  block  used  in  the  last  test. 

1 he  test  was  made  to  satisfy  ourselves  as  there 
are  some  contemplating  building  among  the  parties 
witnessing  the  test  and  all  parties  marveled  at  the 
strength  of  the  blocks. 


Tt  at  any  time  you  care  to  refer  any  person  to  me 
as  being  present  at  this  test,  I will  be  glad  to  give 
any  information  regarding  it 

Mr.  J.  P.  McCord,  residing  at  Port  Carbon,  who 
is  boilermaker  tor  the  P & R.  Rwy.  Company, 
witnessed  the  test,  in  fact  he  had  charge  of  the 
machine  when  making  the  test.  There  was  no 
sharp  practice,  and  was  an  honest-to-goodness 
test  and  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  inform  you 
just  what  the  result  was.  Yours  truly, 

S.  A.  WRIGHT,  Assistant  d rain  Master. 


TESTS  MADE  BY 
DIRECTOR  OF  PUBLIC  WORKS 
RICHMOND,  YA. 

A test  was  made  on  Straub  Cinder  Blocks  by  the 
Director  of  Public  Works  of  Richmond,  Ya.,  and 
the  following  is  an  extract  from  his  annual  report 
ending  December  31st,  1923. 

“Outside  walls  and  top  were  built  of  cinder  block 
12  inches  thick,  consisting  of  an  8 inch  block  with  a 
core  and  a 4 inch  solid  block.  These  were  alternated 
from  inside  to  outside  so  as  to  form  a perfect  tie  in 
and  were  also  tied  together  with  wall  strips.  The 
cinder  block  was  not  decided  upon  until  after  one  of 
the  blocks  had  been  put  in  the  furnace  fire  at  a 
temperature  of  about  1250-1400  degrees  Fahr.,  and 
allowed  to  remain  45  minutes.  Then  removed  and 
dropped  in  a barrel  of  cold  mixture  of  fish  brine  and 
water  which  showed  little  if  any  deterioration. 
After  this  a test  was  made  by  the  chemist  and  the 
block  showed  a compressive  strength  of  700  pounds.” 


PITTSBURG  TESTING  LABORATORY 
Pittsburg,  Pa.  January  12,  1922 
Laboratory  No.  48544 

Report  of  Test  of  Holding  Strength  of  Wire 
Nails  for 

F.  J.  Straub,  New  Kensington,  Pa. 

In  order  to  obtain  the  holding  power  of  wire  nails 
in  cinder  building  blocks  as  compared  with  wood, 
samples  were  placed  in  a Universal  testing  machine 
and  the  loads  required  to  draw  the  nails  determined. 


Results  of  Test 


Size 

of 

Depth 
of  Nail 

Load  in 
Lbs. 

Nail 

Material  Used 

in 

Material 

Required 
to  Draw 
Nails 

20  d 

2x4  Yellow  Pine 

IK 

260 

16  d 

2x4  Yellow  Pine 

IK 

270 

20  d 

Cinder  Concrete  Block 

IK 

300 

20  d 

Cinder  Concrete  Block 

IK 

250 

20  d 

Cinder  Concrete  Block 

IK 

200 

16  d 

Cinder  Concrete  Block 

IK 

200 

20  d 

Old  Nail  in  Cinder 
Concrete  Block  5 years 

IK 

650 

*This  specimen  was  a nail  which  had  been  driven 
into  a cinder  block  used  in  the  walls  of  a bottling 
plant  at  New  Kensington,  Pa.  When  the  building 
was  partly  destroyed  by  fire,  this  specimen  was 
selected  to  determine  the  effects  ot  age  on  the 
holding  power  of  the  nail.  The  nail  had  not  rusted 
in  the  concrete,  although  it  had  rusted  where  not 
embedded. 

PITTSBURG  TESTING  LABORATORY 
P.  J.  Freeman, 
Engineer  of  Tests 


167 


PIER  TESTS 


Results  of  Tests 


M ade  by 

COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY 
TESTING  LABORATORIES 

Tests  of  Straub  cinder  concrete  block  at  Columbia 
University  Testing  Laboratories  show  ratios  of  .758, 
.700  and  .547  between  compressive  strengths  of 
individual  units  and  of  piers  built  of  similar  units. 

Tests  were  made  for  three  licensed  manufacturers 
of  Straub  block — Bergen  Building  Block  Co., 
Ridgefield  Park,  N.  J.,  Hudson  Fireproof  Block  Co., 
Homestead,  N.  J.,  and  Brooklyn  Crozite  Brick 
Corp.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


The  following  is  front  the  Columbia  University 
report: 

The  tests  consisted  of  compression  tests  on 
Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Block,  and  upon  piers  built 
with  these  block.  The  cinder  concrete  block  and 
materials  entering  into  the  construction  of  tile- 
piers  were  furnished  by  the  above  manufacturers. 


Construction  of  Masonry  Piers 

The  masonry  piers  tested  were  constructed  of 
Straub  block  by  a mason  furnished  by  the  manu- 
facturers. Three  piers  of  the  following  dimensions 
were  constructed: 

Pier  No.  1 — Composed  of  8 x 8 x 16-in.  two-cell 
block.  Pier,  8.05  x 23.92  x 54.10-in.  high.  Pier 
consisted  of  six  courses  of  8 x 8 x 16-in.  and  8 x 8 x 
8-in.  block  with  joints  broken  and  one  top  course 
composed  of  a 4x8  x 16-in.  and  4 x 8 x 8-in.  solid 
cinder  block. 

Pier  No.  2 — Composed  of  8 x 8 x 16-in.  two-cell 
block.  Pier,  8.15  x 23.90  x 53.8-in.  high.  Con- 
structed same  as  Pier  No.  1. 

Pier  No.  3 — Composed  of  8 x 12  x 16-in.  three-cell 
block.  Pier,  12.40  x 24.0  x 54-in.  high.  Pier  con- 
sisted of  six  courses  of  8 x 12  x 16-in.  and  8 x 12  x 
8-in  block,  with  joints  broken  and  one  top  course 
composed  of  three  8 x 12  x 8-in.  solid  cinder  concrete 
block. 

The  block  were  laid  up  in  a portland  cement 
mortar,  mixed  in  the  proportions  of  one  part  cement 
and  three  parts  sand,  and  stored  indoors  for  a period 
of  twenty  days. 

All  of  the  above  piers  were  provided,  both  at  top 
and  bottom,  with  yi~\n.  steel  bearing  plates,  set  in  a 
mortar  bed,  so  as  to  insure  a uniform  bearing  on 
each  end  of  the  pier. 


Method  of  Test 

The  masonry  piers  were  placed  in  a 400,000-lb. 
Olsen  testing  machine  provided  with  a spherical 
bearing  plate  and  tested  to  failure  in  compression. 
Pier  No.  1 was  subjected  to  the  compressive  loads 
in  increments  of  5000  lbs.  and  the  corresponding 
compressive  strains  measured.  Piers  No.  2 and 
No.  3 were  loaded  to  failure  without  measurement 
of  the  compressive  strains. 

Three  8 x 8 x 16-in.  block  and  three  8 x 12  x 16-in. 
block,  similar  to  those  used  in  the  construction  of  the 
piers  were  tested  individually  in  the  same  testing 
machine  to  determine  their  ultimate  compressive 
strength.  The  specimens  were  provided  with  plaster 
of  paris  bearing  surfaces  before  test. 


The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  compres- 
sion tests  made  upon  the  three  masonry  piers: 


Test  No 

Specimen 

Height,  ins . . . 

Width,  ins 

Thickness,  ins 

Gross  area,  ins . . . . 

Maximum  load,  lbs 

Ult.  strength,  lbs.  per  $q.  in.. 
Weight.  I bs.-oz 


237*8 

23749 

23750 

No.  1 

No.  2 

No.  3 

54.10 

53.8 

54.0 

23.92 

23.90 

24.0 

8.05 

8.15 

12.40 

192.6 

194.8 

297.6 

135,600 

126,500 

214.00C 

704 

649 

719 

469-4 

469-0 

703-4 

1 he  following  table  gives  the  results  of  compres- 
sion tests  on  individual  block,  similar  to  those  used 
in  the  construction  of  the  piers: 


Test  No 

2375 

23752 

23753 

23754 

23755 

23756 

Specimen 

8x12 

x 16-in. 

Block 

8x8xl6-in.  Block 

Mark 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Length,  in 

16.02 

15.90 

15.90 

15.95 

15.80 

15.94 

Width,  in 

12.40 

12.40 

12.25 

7.98 

8.02 

8.02 

Height,  in . . 

8.04 

8.12 

8.00 

7.80 

7.82 

8.0U 

Gross  Area,  scj . m 

198.6 

197.2 

194.8 

127.3 

126.7 

127.8 

Net  Area,  sq.  in 

135.1 

133.7 

131.3 

86.7 

86.1 

87.2 

Max.  Load,  lbs 

240,620 

262,770 

2 72,900 

1 13,250 

11 3,430 

126,680 

Ultimate  Strength,  lbs. 

1.210 

1.330 

1.405 

890 

895 

992 

Net 

1.780 

1.955 

2,080 

1.305 

1.315 

1.455 

Weight,  1 bs.-oz . 

59-0 

59-12 

61-8 

38-0 

38  10 

39-8 

Average  Strength,  based 

on  gross  area,  lbs.  per 

sq . in 

1.315 

927 

The  loads  and  corresponding  compressive  strains 
determined  from  test  upon  Pier  No.  1 are  as  follows: 


168 


STRESS  STRAIN  DATA 


Pier  No.  I.  Dimensions — 8.05  x 23.92  x 54.10  in. 
Gage  length.  34. 85  in. 

Area,  192.6  sq. in. 


Applied 

Load 

6 4. per  sq.in. 

Strain,  Inches 
per  I nch 

Applied  Load 

1 bs.  per  sq  .in. 

Strain,  Inches 
per  Inch 

5 

0 

5 

.0000402 

52 

.0000622 

389 

.000560 

104 

.000136 

415 

.000605 

130 

.0001 79 

442 

.000647 

156 

.000216 

467 

. 00069 1 

5 

. 0000060 

193 

.000742 

IS4 

.000255 

519 

.000788 

20S 

. 000290 

550 

.000860 

234 

.000325 

571 

. 000886 

260 

.000359 

597 

. 000950 

S 

.0000175 

622 

.001002 

288 

.000403 

649 

.001053 

312 

.000426 

675 

.001104 

338 

.000477 

700 

.001163 

370 

. 000537 

704  Maximum 

Modulus  of  elasticity  as  determined  from  the 
above  data  is  698,000  lbs.  per  sq.  in.,  based  on  the 
intensity  of  stress  on  the  gross  cross  section.  Based 
on  a net  section  of  130  sq.  in.,  the  modulus  of  elas- 
ticity would  be  1,035,000  lbs.  per  sq.  in.,  approxi- 
mately. 

From  the  above  tests,  the  ratio  of  the  compres- 
sive strength  of  the  masonry  pier  to  that  of  the 
individual  block  based  on  gross  cross  sectional  area 
is  a stollows: 


Pier  No. 

Compressive 
Strength 
of  Pier 

Com  pressi  ve 
Strength 
of  Block 

Ratio 

1 

704 

927 

. 758 

2 

649 

927 

. 700 

3 

719 

1315 

.547 

Note — Piers  1 and  2,  composed  of  8 x 8 x 16  in.  block. 
Pier  3 composed  of  8 x 12  x 16  in.  block. 


STRUCTURAL  MATERIALS  RESEARCH 
LABORATORY 
Lewis  Institute,  Chicago 
Tests  of  Cinder  Concrete  Block 

Sent  by  Straub  Concrete  Block  Co.,  Purest  Park,  III. 
Request  ol  W.  R.  Harris,  Concrete  Products  Asso- 
ciation, Chicago. 

Our  Lot  No.  6554 — 3 blocks 
Tests  of  8 by  8 by  16-in.  cinder  concrete  building 
block  containing  three  vertical  air  spaces.  The  3 
block  were  (identified  by  our  Lot  No.  6554)  first 
tested  tor  absorption;  after  the  absorption  test  they 
were  room-dried  and  tested  for  strength. 

Lot  No.  6554 — Mix  approximately  1-6,  about  3 
weeks  old  when  received. 


Absorption  Tests  of  the  block  were  made  in 
water  at  room  temperature.  They  were  dried  to 
constant  weight  at  a temperature  of  about  100°  C,. 
and  immersed  in  water  for  24  hours.  The  gain  in 
weight  calculated  as  a percentage  of  the  dry  weight 
is  the  absorption.  The  block  were  allowed  to  room- 
dry  for  two  days  after  the  absorption  test  before 
breaking  in  compression. 

Compression  tests  of  the  block  were  made  in  a 
200,000-lb.  Olsen  Universal  Testing  Machine.  The 
block  were  tested  as  laid  in  the  wall.  The  bearing 
surfaces  were  capped  with  a mixture  of  neat  cement 
and  gypsum  to  insure  an  even  distribution  of  load. 
The  load  was  applied  through  a spherical  bearing 
block. 


Lot 

Date 

Dim.  Block — In. 
Loaded  Depth 

Gross 

Area 

Net 

Area 

No. 

of 

Surface 

sq.  in. 

sq.  in 

6554 

Test 

2-9-23 

8.0  by  15.8  7.7 

126 

77 

Average 


March  21,  1923. 


Compressive  Strength 

Dry 

Absorption 

1 otal  lb. 

per  sq.  in. 

Weight 

Percent 

Load 

Gross 

Net 

Lb. 

by 

Lb. 

Area 

Area 

Weight 

123,850 

980 

1610 

26.28 

11.4 

135,180 

1070 

1750 

28.19 

9.7 

144,000 

1140 

1870 

28.65 

9.2 

1060 

1760 

10.  1 

Correct,— WALKER. 

Approved,  D.  H.  ABRAMS. 

Professor  in  charge  of  Laboratory 


E.  L.  CON  WELL  & CO. 

Successor  to 

HENRY  S.  SPACKMAN  ENGINEERING  CO. 
Established  1894 

Engineers  Chemists  Inspectors 
2024  Arch  Street 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  6,  1925. 

Berks  Building  Block  Co. 

Northmont,  Reading,  Pa. 

Gentlemen : 

The  following  is  a report  of  our  tests  of  heat 
conductivity  of  Straub  Block  recently  submitted  by 
you. 

Lab.  No.  32810. 

1 he  values  given  below  represent  the  gramcalories 
that  will  pass  per  second  through  1 sq.  centimeter 
of  the  substance.  This  is  called  the  coefficient  of 
thermal  conductivity. 


Coefficient 

.0007 

.0006 

.0004 

.0007 

.0007 

.0004 

.0007 

.0007 


\v.  .00061 

For  comparison,  we  give  below  the  coefficient  for 
several  other  materials: 


Terra  Cotta  .003 

Silica  Brick  .002 

Building  Brick  .003 

Steel  .140 

Asbestos  .0003 


These  tests  show  that  Straub  Block  have  a co- 
efficient of  thermal  conductivity  approximating 
those  of  usual  insulating  materials. 

Respectfullv  submitted, 

E.  L.  CONWELL  & CO. 


Straub  Block  No.  1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 


169 


TESTS  BY  E.  L.  CONWELL  & CO. 


E.  L.  CONWELL  & CO. 

Successor  to 

Henry  S.  Spackman  Engineering  Co. 
Established  1894 

ENGINEERS  - CHEMISTS  - INSPECTORS 
2024  Arch  Street 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 
July  31.  1924. 

Berks  Building  Block  Company, 

Reading,  Pennsylvania. 

Gentlemen : 

The  following  is  a report  ot  our  observations  at 
the  fire  and  quenching  test  ot  Straub  cinder  block  of 
your  manufacture  held  at  vour  plant  Saturday, 
July  12,  1924. 


Test  Structure  A special  building  for  the  test 
was  constructed  by  experienced  masons.  It  was 
approximately  20  ft.  by  12  ft.  and  10  ft.  high  and 
contained  637  cinder  block,  size  8 in.  by  8 in.  by 
16  in.,  804  face  brick  and  130  hollow  clay  tile  laid 
up  in  lime  mortar.  One  partition  wall  of  Straub 
Block  was  loaded  with  10  tons  of  pig  iron.  The 
interior  was  filled  with  oil  soaked  cordwood.  The 
structure  before  test  is  shown  in  photograph  No.  1. 

Fire  Test.  At  1.30  P.  M.  the  fire  was  started 
and  was  fed  at  short  intervals  with  oil  soaked  wood. 
A Fery  pyrometer  was  used  to  determine  the  tem- 
peratures reached  in  the  interior,  while  mercury 
thermometers  were  used  to  obtain  temperatures  at 
exterior  points  and  within  the  cells  of  the  block  and 
tile.  The  temperatures  reached  within  the  structure 
were  as  follows: 

Interior  Temperatures 


Time  Temperature 

1.45  710°  F. 

1.50  800°  F. 

1.55  1050°  F. 

2.00  1205°  F. 

2.05  1350°  F. 

2.10  1385°  F. 

2.15  1420°  F. 

2.20 1470°  F. 

2.25  1505°  F. 

2.30 1510°  F. 

2.35 1540°  F. 

2.40 1510°  F. 

2.45  1530°  F. 

2.50  1505°  F. 

2.55  1520°  F. 

3.00  1485°  F. 

3.05  1530°  F. 

3.10  1505°  F. 

3.15  1500°  F. 


1 he  temperatures  reached  in  the  cells  of  the  hol- 
low clay  tile  and  cinder  blocks  were  as  follows: 

Cell  Temperature 


ime 

Clay  Tile 

Cinder  Block 

2.00.  . 

. . . 140°  F 

115°  F. 

2.15 

. . . 183°  F 

....  140°  F. 

2.30 

. .260°  F 

. . . . 160°  F. 

2.45 

.413°  F 

....  260°  F. 

3.00 

. . .681°  F 

. . .384°  F. 

3.15 

. . .704°  F..  . 

. . . .397°  F. 

Quenching  Test.  When  the  fire  had  continued 
\'/i  hrs.,  and  with  an  interior  temperature  of  1500° 
F.  the  fire  was  extinguished  and  the  building  com- 
pletely saturated  with  water  by  the  Reading  Fire 
Department.  This  constitutes  an  exceedingly  severe 
test  ot  the  materials,  involving  a sudden  reducrion 
ot  temperature  from  1500°  F.  with  severe  resultant 
strains  and  stresses  from  quick  contraction. 


Materials  After  Test.  We  subsequently  ex- 
amined the  building  and  also  inspected  each  unit 
as  rhe  building  was  demolished.  All  of  the  walls 
were  free  from  bulging  or  deflection  and  the  Straub 
Block  party  wall  loaded  with  10  tons  of  iron  was 
unaffected  except  on  the  surface.  All  of  the  ma- 
terials were  discolored  by  smoke  or  water 

Our  inspection  of  the  various  units  removed  dur- 
ing demolition  is  reported  as  follows: 

Of  the  637  Straub  Block,  2 were  cracked;  the 
remaining  635  were  intact  and  uninjured  beyond 
surface  calcination  to  a maximum  depth  in  a few 
cases  of  /j  in. 

The  clay  tile  were  badly  cracked  and  checked 
unfit  for  use. 

Of  91  face  brick  exposed  in  the  north  party  wall 
85  were  cracked  and  unfit  for  use. 

Tests  of  Straub  Block  from  Structure.  As  a 

direct  determination  of  the  effect  of  the  fire  and 
quenching  upon  the  strength  of  Straub  Block,  5 
were  taken  from  various  places  in  the  structure 
after  the  test  and  tested  in  comparison  with  5 block 
of  same  age  taken  from  stock  piles.  The  results 
were  as  follows: 


170 


Compression  Tests 


Specimen 

Block  from 

h re 

Bloc 

k fr 

om  stock  pile 

No 

Crushing  sti 

eng 

til 

gross  area. 

lbs.  per  sq 

. in 

i 

792 

.0. 

. . 763.0 

7 

813 

.0. 

. . 838  0 

3 . . 

774 

.0. 

. . . 849 . 0 

4.  . . . 

771 

.0. 

...793.0 

5.... 

800 

.0. 

. . .761.0 

-\v 790. 

0 

Av.. 

...801.0 

These  results  show 

that  Straub 

B! 

ock  after  ex- 

posure  to 

tire  for  lyi 

h r.< 

; with  a 

m; 

aximum  tem- 

pe rat u re  ( 

if  1540°  F.  f 

olio 

iwed  by 

quick  quenching 

by  water  suffered  no  appreciable  loss  of  structural 
strength  and  that  they  still  were  capable  of  meeting 
the  usual  minimum  crushing  strength  requirement 
of  750  lbs.  per  sq.  in. 

Upon  analysis  an  average  sample  of  the  block  was 
found  to  contain : 

Parts  by  Volume 


Cement 1.00 

Cinders 6.13 


Summary.  In  length  and  intensity  this  test 
approximates  the  conditions  of  a destructive  dwell- 
ing house  fire  and  their  condition  at  the  end  shows 
cinder  block  to  be  strongly  tire  resistant  and  to  be 
capable  of  passing  through  the  average  fire  unim- 
paired except  for  surface  discoloration. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

E.  L.  CONWELL  & CO. 

Registered  professional  engineer. 

E.  L.  CONWELL  & CO. 

Successor  to 

HENRY  S.  SPACEMAN  ENGINEERING  CO. 
Established  1804 

Engineers  Chemists  Inspectors 
2024  Arch  Street 
Philadelphia 

Berks  Building  Block  Co., 

Crescent  and  Belmont  Avenues, 

Northmont,  Reading,  Pa. 

Gentlemen : 

We  report  tests  of  specimens  of  Straub  block  and 
lintels  recently  submitted  by  you  per  your  letter  of 
April  3,  1925' 

Lab.  No.  .10120. 

Specimen  Size 

No. 

1 . . . 8x8x16 

2 “ 

3..  ....  .. 

4  

5  “ 

6  

7  

8  

9 

10 


Speci  men 

No.  Size 

11 16x12x8  750.0 


12  “ 993.0 

13  “ 870.0 

14  “ 1040.0 

15  “ 940.0 

16  “ 751.0 

17  “ 758.0 

18  “ 770.0 

19  “ 759.0 

20  “ 1100, 0 

873.0 


Strength  in  Compression, 
(lbs.  per  sq.  in.  Gross  Area). 

1470.0 

940.0 

945.0 

990.0 

763.0 

1075.0 

927.0 

1222.0 

1003.0 

1550.0 

Av.  10SS  0 

Strength  in  Compression, 
(lbs.  per  sq.  in.  Gross  Area). 


1 he  result  of  tests  on  the  lintels  shown  below  is 
the  transverse  or  crossbreaking  test,  the  result  of 
w inch  is  always  expressed  as  modulus  of  rupture. 
1 he  Moduli  of  rupture  were  calculated  by  the  for- 
mula: R =3WI/2bd- 

R =3xLoad  at  Failure  x distance  in  inches  between 
centers  divided  by  2 x breadth  x depth  squared. 

file  modulus  of  rupture  is  an  approximate  expres* 
sion  of  the  apparent  stress  in  the  extreme  fibre  of 
a transverse  test  specimen  under  the  load  that  pro- 
duces rupture.  It  is  not  the  crushing  strength.  The 
stresses  set  up  comprise  tension  and  compression  for 
the  specimen  is  reacting  as  a beam  with  the  upper 
part  in  compression  and  the  lower  in  tension  The 
inaccuracy  of  the  test  may  be  disregarded  as  trans- 
verse tests  of  all  materials  contain  the  same  inaccu- 
racy and  are  therefore  directly  comparative.  The 
results  of  transverse  tests  expressed  as  moduli  of 
rupture  are  very  nearly  proportional  to  the  actual 
stresses.  Moduli  of  rupture  of  common  structural 
materials  are  as  follows: 

(lbs.  per  sq.  in.) 


Stone 2000 

Brick 800 

Plain  Stone  Concrete  (1-2-4) 500 


Transverse  Tests  of  Lintels 

Lintels  tested  on  edge  resting  on  rounded  knife 
edges.  Load  applied  by  rounded  knife  edge  on 
centre  of  span. 

In  all  cases,  the  span  equals  the  even  foot  dimen- 
sion of  the  lintels  tested. 

Specimen  Size  Modulus  of  Rupture. 

(lbs.  per  sq.  in.) 


21 3 ft.  8 in 1430.0 


?? 

“ 

128*>  0 

13 

“ 

1326  0 

Av. 

1347.0 

24 

....  4 ft.  8 in 

1129.0 

13 

“ 

943  0 

46 

“ 

. 759  0 

Av. 

944.0 

27 

....  5 ft.  8 in 

783.0 

1 8 

“ 

1128  0 

29 

“ 

1214  0 

Av. 

1042.0 

30 

. . . . 6 ft.  8 m 

1407.0 

31 

“ 

1317  0 

34 

“ 

1377  0 

Av. 

1367.0 

33 

7 ft.  8 in 

1406.0 

34 

“ 

1309  0 

35 

“ 

1392  0 

Av. 

1369.0 

These  transverse  tests  v'ere  performed  as  described 
above.  The  results  are  therefore  directly  compara- 
tive with  the  values  of  other  materials  given  above. 
The  Philadelphia  Building  Code  requires  new  build- 
ing materials  (the  classification  into  which  your 
lintels  would  belong)  to  show  a modulus  of  rupture 
of  not  under  450  lbs.  per  sq.  in. 

Yours  very  truly, 

E.  L.  CONWELL  & CO. 


Av. 


E.  L.  CONWELL  & CO. 

Successor  to 

Henry  S.  Spackman  Engineering  Co. 
Established  1894 

ENGINEERS  CHEMISTS  INSPECTORS 
2024  Arch  Street 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 

January  19,  1925. 

Harrisburg  Building  Block  Company, 

Cameron  and  Reily  Streets, 

Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Gentlemen : 

The  following  is  a report  of  our  observation  of  a 
comparative  test  between  a brick  wall  and  a Straub 
cinder  block  wall  of'  equal  dimensions,  conducted  at 
Harrisburg  Building  Block  Co.,  November  7,  1924. 

The  brick  wall  was  6 ft.  9.5  in.  in  length  by  8 in. 
in  width  and  32  in.  high.  The  cinder  concrete  block 
wall  was  6 ft.  8.5  in.  in  length  by  8 in.  in  width  and 
32  in.  high. 

These  walls  were  erected  by  a practical  brick- 
layer and  were  laid  up  in  lime  mortar.  1 hese  walls 
were  inspected  by  our  representative  in  both  vertical 
and  horizontal  positions  before  the  test  and  found  to 
be  of  good  standard  workmanship. 

These  wall  specimens  were  subjected  to  a trans- 
verse test  as  follows.  The  specimens  were  supported 
flatwise  on  4 ft.  centers  and  loaded  at  the  center 
point  with  cinder  block  until  failure  took  place.  The 
brick  wall  specimen  failed  under  a load  of  379  lbs. 
The  Straub  block  wall  specimen  tailed  under  a load 
of  1227  lbs.  In  the  case  of  the  brick  wall  specimen, 
there  was  extensive  failure  of  the  brick  and  mortar 
joints  while  a clean  fracture  occured  in  the  Straub 
block  wall  specimen  without  accompanying  failure 
of  individual  block. 


The  attached  photographs  show  the  following: 
No.  1 shows  the  brick  wall  specimen  ready  for  test. 
No.  2 shows  the  brick  wall  specimen  after  test. 
Nos.  3,  4 and  5 show  the  Straub  block  wall  speci- 
mens sustaining  loads  of  379  lbs.,  500  lbs.,  and 


Because  the  camera  was  adjusted  to  directly 
face  the  slab,  only  the  first  row  of  the  block  load  is 
visible  in  the  above  illustrations. 


1000  lbs. 

No.  6 shows  comparative  quantities  of  block  re- 
quired to  cause  failure  of  the  wall  specimens  as 
described  above. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

E.  L.  CONWELL  & CO. 

Registered  Professional  Engineer. 


172 


TYPES  t\_  S 1 Z E S 
ST  RAUB  Cinder  Building  BLOCK  S 


173 


Two  types  of  block  that 

present  identical  advantages 


The  two  types  ot  block  show  n above  illustrate  two  different  designs 
of  air  spaces.  Some  licensees  under  Straub  Patents  manufacture  both 
types,  while  some  specialize  in  one  type  only. 

The  air  spaces,  regardless  of  shape,  represent  27 % to  33%  of  the 
gross  cross  sectional  area,  while  the  texture,  load  bearing  capacity,  outside 
dimensions,  and  all  other  characteristics  are  identical. 


174 


8"  REGULAR  WALL  BLOCK 


Width  8 Inches 

Height  7?4 

Length  15 G 

Weight 32  to  34  lbs. 


l 


8"  FULL  CORNER  BLOCK 


Width 8 Inches 

Height 734 

Length 15-G  “ 

Weight 33  to  35  lbs. 


8” 

Width 

Height 

Length 

Weight 


FULL  JAMB  BLOCK 

8 Inches 


36  to  38  lbs. 


8"  FULL  GROOVED  BLOCK 


Width  8 Inches 

Height 734 

Length  15-G 

Weight  33  to  35  lbs. 


See  note  on  pa£e  174  re£ardin£  shape  of  air  spaces 


175 


8"  FULL 

HEADER  BLOCK 

8"  HALF,  OR  HALF 

CORNER  BLOCK 

Width 

8 Inches 

Width 

8 Inches 

Height 

. . 73; 

Height 

...  734  “ 

Length 

153  4 

Length 

73;  “ 

Weight 

25  lbs. 

Weight 

16  lbs. 

8"  HALF  JAMB  BLOCK  8"  HALF  GROOVED  BLOCK 


Width.  8 Inches  Width 

Height  73  4 “ Height 

Length  73 4 “ Length 

Weight  15  lbs.  Weight 


8 Inches 


7K 

73,; 

16  lbs. 


See  note  on  page  174  regarding  shape  of  air  spaces 


176 


12"  REGULAR  WALL  BLOCK 


Width 

Height 

Length 

Weight 


12  Inches 

7 X “ 
15K  “ 

52  to  56  lbs. 


12"  FULL  CORNER  BLOCK 

Width  12  Inches 

Height  7-' 4 “ 

Length  15?4 

Weight 53  to  57  lbs. 


12"  FULL  GROOVED  BLOCK 


Width  12  Inches 

Height  7 34  “ 

Length  15# 

Weight 53  to  57  lbs. 


12"  FULL  CORNER  BLOCK  (Solid) 

Width  . 12  Inches 

Height  7# 

Length  . 15#  “ 

Weight  68  to  72  lbs. 


See  note  on  page  174  regarding  shape  of  air  spaces 


177 


T 


* 


12"  HALF,  OR  HALF  CORNER  BLOCK 

Width  12  Inches 

Height  7K 

Length  7 A, 

Weight  30  lbs. 


12''  HALF  GROOVED  BLOCK 

Width  12  Inches 

Height  7?<  “ 

Length  7^4 

Weight  30  lbs. 


6"  FULL  CORNER  BLOCK 
Width  6 Inches 

Height  7*4  “ 

Length  1534  “ 

Weight  26  to  27  lbs. 


6"  REGULAR  WALL  BLOCK 


Width 

Height 

Length 

Weight 


6 Inches 

7K  “ 
1544  “ 

25  to  26  lbs. 


6"  HALF,  OR  HALF  CORNER  BLOCK 
Width  6 Inches 


Height 

Length 

Weight 


734 

734 

13  lbs. 


See  note  on  page  174  regarding  shape  of  air  spaces 


178 


4"  REGULAR  WALL  BLOCK 
(Solid) 


Width  4 Inches 

Height  ly.\ 

Length  15 ^ 

Weight  24  lhs. 


4"  REGULAR  WALL  BLOCK 
(Hollow) 


Width 4 Inches 

Height  7 A, 

Length  153  4 “ 

Weight  15  lhs. 


4"  REGULAR  WALL  BLOCK 
(Hollow  with  Solid  Top) 


Width  4 Inches 

Height  73  4 “ 

Length  15.\t 

Weight  17  Lbs. 


4"  THREE-QUARTER  BLOCK 

Width  4 Inches 

Height  73  4 “ 

Length  11)4 

Weight  18  lbs. 


4"  HALE  BLOCK 


Width  4 Inches 

Height  7' 4 

Length  7^4 

Weight  12  lbs. 


179 


See  note  on  page  174  regarding  shape  of  air  spaces 


SINGLE  CHIMNEY  CAP 


Width 
I leight 
Length 
Weight 


183 4 Inches 
6 

183  4 

90  lhs. 


Width 
I leight 
Length 
Weight 


BRICK 

33-4  Inches 
2G  “ 

8 

3 ‘<4  lbs. 


See  note  on  page  174  regarding  shape  of  air  spaces 


ISO 


VA*1 


r 


Length Variable 

Weight See  Tabulation  below 


Length  of  Lintels 

Weight  of 

8"  High 

Weight  of 
12"  High 

3'-8" 

66 

99 

4,-8" 

84 

126 

5'-8" 

102 

153 

6'-8" 

120 

180 

7'-8" 

138 

207 

8'-8" 

156 

234 

9'-8" 

174 

261 

For  moduli  of  rupture  of  lintels  see  page  171 


See  note  on  pa£e  174  regarding  shape  of  air  spaces 


181 


CONSTRUCTION 


183 


In  the  above  photograph,  the  mason  is  laying  blocks  in  the  party  wall  of  a twin  house.  Note  the  use  of  one  course 
of  header  brick  between  every  two  courses  of  4"  hollow  back-ups  on  the  outside  wall  which  will  be  furred.  The 
top  course  of  the  Cinder  Block  Foundation  walls  is  shown  at  bottom  of  illustration. 


This  photograph  shows  the  proper  method  of  spreading  mortar  on  top  of  blocks,  care  should  be  exercised  to 
prevent  mortar  joints  running  through  from  one  face  to  the  other,  particularly  outside  walls. 

The  mason  should  spread  mortar  over  the  course  in  one  operation,  instead  of  laying  one  block  at  a time. 

184 


Suggestions  for 

handling  and  laying 

Straub  Blocks 


This  Photograph  shows  the  use  of  the  8"  Regular  Wall 
Block  and  the  8"  Header  Block  in  backing  up  4" 
of  brick  wall,  making  a 13"  wall. 

Note  that  no  through  joints  of  mortar  occur  between 
the  outside  and  inside  faces  of  the  block  in  the  wall. 


Blocks  should  be  set  upon  their  ends  on  the  scaffold  within  easy  reach  of  the  mason,  so  that  the  vertical  side 
may  be  buttered  without  further  handling,  while  the  mason  has  his  trowel  in  hand.  Afterward,  the  mason  can 
lay  a number  of  blocks  quickly  without  again  taking  up  his  trowel. 

The  incorrect  method  of  piling  blocks  Is  Indicated  at  the  far  end  of  the  platform. 

185 


Illustrating  the  use  of  metal  wall  ties  in  bonding  the  face  brick  to  the  4"  hollow  back-up  blocks  This  wall  will  nor 
be  furred  on  the  inside  as  no  through  joints  exist.  1 tKS-  i ms  wall  will  not 


Illustrating  the  use  of  4"  and  8"  blocks  for  backing  up  a stone  facing.  The  8"  Cinder  Block  Wall  in  the  foreground 
is  to  be  pointed  out,  as  indicated  in  the  following  photograph. 


The  8"  Cinder  Block  Walls  on  the  rear  of  the  stone  building  is  pointed  out  in  a manner  similar  to  the  stone  work. 
Note  the  intersection  of  the  blocks  with  the  stone  work  at  the  corner  of  the  rear  wall. 

The  above  illustration  shows  this  type  of  construction  before  the  finish  pointing  is  done. 

187 


Specifications  for  Construction  with  Straub  Cinder 

Building  Units 


(1)  GENERAL: 

I Ins  Contractor  shall  furnish  all  labor  and  materials,  transportation,  tools  anti 
equipment  required  to  erect  the  Straub  Cinder  Building  Units  and  such  other  allied 
work  as  indicated  on  the  drawings,  all  in  accordance  with  the  best  and  latest  practice  and 
as  hereinafter  specified;  only  skilled  mechanics  accustomed  to  the  laying  up  ot  Straub 
Cinder  Building  Units  shall  he  employed. 

(Where  the  walls  are  trimmed  with  brick,  cut  stone  or  architectural  terra  cotta, 
or  where  the  walls  are  faced  or  veneered  with  brick  or  limestone,  specify  whether 
this  contractor  shall  set  same,  furnished  by  other  contractors,  or  include  both  the 
furnishing  and  setting). 

Contractor  shall  carefully  examine  the  drawings  and  provide  for  the  complete  and 
proper  construction  of  all  work  and  shall  furnish  all  steel  rods,  hand  iron,  anchors,  bolts, 
etc.,  hereinafter  specified  to  be  furnished  in  connection  with  the  work  included  under 
this  heading. 

1 his  Contractor  shall  build  in  all  miscellaneous  ironwork  furnished  under  other 
contracts  and  shall  co-operate  with  and  assist  the  carpenter  or  other  contractors  in  any 
work  which  must  be  jointly  executed. 

rh is  Contractor  shall  also  furnish  the  proper  protection  for  his  men  and  for  those 
working  under  him,  as  required  by  the  Local  and  State  laws. 

(2)  STRAUB  CINDER  BUILDING  UNITS: 

All  Straub  Cinder  Building  Units  shall  be  straight,  uniform,  and  sound,  and  ot  such 
character  that  they  will  pass  and  comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  local  building  code. 
Besides  the  regular  blocks,  use  such  special  shapes  and  sizes  as  may  be  required  to  accom- 
plish the  provisions  of  the  drawings  and  the  aims  of  the  architect. 

(3)  TESTS: 

Copy  of  test  report  certifying  that  the  test  requirements  have  been  complied  with, 
indorsed  by  a recognized  testing  laboratory,  will  be  accepted  by  the  architect  as  satis- 
factory evidence  that  the  proposed  make  of  Straub  Cinder  Building  Units  will  fulfill  the 
requirements  specified,  subject  to  inspection  approval  as  hereafter  specified.  All  tests 
shall  be  conducted  so  as  to  conform  with  the  requirements  of  the  local  building  code. 


189 


(4)  INSPECTION: 

The  requirements  of  inspection  are  that  at  least  85%  of  all  material  furnished  in 
each  carload  or  truck  load  shall  be  equal  to  the  sample  approved  and  shall  comply  with 
the  specified  crushing  and  absorption  requirements,  and  the  balance  shall  in  the  opinion 
of  the  architect,  or  his  inspector,  constitute  only  a fair  and  usual  commercial  variation 
from  same,  otherwise  the  entire  shipment  or  sucb  part  of  same  as  may  be  condemned  by 
the  inspector  shall  be  culled  and  immediately  removed  from  the  site. 

(5)  MORTAR: 

All  mortar  used  for  the  setting  of  Straub  Cinder  Building  Units  shall  be  composed 
by  volume  of  one  part  of  Portland  cement  (approved  brand  ) to  three  parts  of  clean  sharp 
sand  thoroughly  mixed  to  a smooth  moderately  stiff  mortar,  to  which  may  be  added  hy- 
drated lime,  not  to  exceed  10  per  cent  of  the  volume  of  cement.  The  lime  and  cement 
shall  be  thoroughly  mixed  before  the  addition  of  sand  and  water.  The  resulting  mortar 
mixture  shall  be  used  within  thirty  minutes  after  the  water  is  added  and  no  retemper- 
mg  shall  be  permitted. 

(6)  LAYING: 

All  hollow  blocks  shall  be  laid  with  the  cells  vertical  in  the  wall  and  in  such  a manner 
that  the  main  bearing  webs  come  in  proper  relation  for  bearing  with  those  of  the  block 
below.  No  vertical  or  horizontal  joints  shall  be  mortared  through  the  walls  but  liberal 
air  spaces  shall  be  left  in  the  center  of  the  walls  by  buttering  the  two  edges  of  each  block 
on  both  horizontal  and  vertical  joints.  When  12"  blocks  are  used  place  mortar  over 
front,  center  and  rear  webs  exercising  care  that  the  mortar  does  not  carry  through  the 
wall.  All  walls  shall  be  bonded  by  breaking  vertical  joints  in  every  coarse  at  least  three 
inches.  In  warm  weather  all  blocks  shall  be  thoroughly  wetted  before  use. 

(7)  FOUNDATION  WALLS: 

Where  indicated  on  drawings  the  foundation  walls  and  piers  shall  be  constructed  of 
Straub  Cinder  Building  Units  o such  size  and  shape  as  may  be  required  and  in  conformity 
with  the  local  building  code.  Special  units  shall  be  used  for  corners,  offsets,  and  other 
breaks  to  maintain  a good  bond  and  to  insure  properly  staggered  joints  throughout  the 
length  of  the  wall. 

(In  low,  damp  ground,  water  bearing  clay  or  where  springs  or  excessive  ground 
water  occurs,  the  outside  of  foundation  walls  shall  be  plastered  with  a mortar  composed 
of  one  part  Portland  cement  to  two  parts  of  sand  with  a mixture  of  an  approved  damp- 
proofing  composition  and  to  be  applied  one-half  to  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in  thick- 
ness. Also,  where  any  quantity  of  ground  water  is  present  or  known  to  occur,  a dry  drain 
should  be  laid  around  the  foundation  to  carry  the  water  away  to  a convenient  point. 
Specified  under  this  heading  or  under  the  plumbing  and  drainage  work.) 

(8)  EXTERIOR  WALLS  AND  INTERIOR  BEARING  WALLS: 

All  exterior  walls  above  foundation  and  all  interior  bearing  walls  shall  be  constructed 
of  the  various  thicknesses  as  indicated  on  drawings,  forming  all  corners,  returns  and  off- 
sets as  shown,  and  using  the  required  shapes  and  sizes  to  work  to  corners  and  openings 
and  to  maintain  proper  bond  throughout  the  length  of  the  wall. 

Use  special  jamb  blocks  for  double-hung  window  frames. 

Use  reinforced  Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Lintels  over  all  door  openings  or  use  lintels 
of  special  design  as  indicated. 

Where  arches  occur  in  walls  they  shall  be  formed  of  two  (or  more)  courses  of  cinder 
brick  laid  in  rowlock  fashion  on  suitable  centers. 

(9)  BEARING  WALL  DESIGN: 

The  design  and  size  of  hollow  Straub  Cinder  Building  Units  in  bearing  walls  shall 
be  such  that  the  gross  sectional  area  of  the  block  is  not  stressed  greater  than  one-tenth 
of  the  crushing  strength  of  the  particular  units  used,  as  ascertained  by  properly  conducted 
test.  The  super-imposed  loadings  shall  include  the  dead  and  live  loads  of  floors  and  roof 
and  the  weight  of  wall  construction,  etc.,  and  in  no  case  shall  the  block  be  subjected  to 


190 


tensile  stress,  unless  suitable  steel  reinforcement  is  provided.  Where  heavy  beams  or 
girders  are  placed  on  hollow  block  walls,  or  where  other  concentrated  loads  occur,  the 
holes  shall  be  filled  with  concrete  or  the  walls  shall  be  capped  with  concrete  or  otherwise 
reinforced  to  properly  distribute  the  load.  The  interior  bearing  walls  shall  be  well  bonded 
and  tied  into  outside  walls.  Fire  plates  and  chimneys  shall  he  built  as  shown  and  shall 
be  well  bonded  into  the  walls  in  which  they  occur. 

(10)  PARTITION  WALLS: 

All  partition  and  division  walls  other  than  load  bearing  shall  be  constructed  of 
light  weight  hollow  Straub  Cinder  Building  Units  of  the  thickness  indicated  on  the  draw- 
ings. They  must  be  built  true  to  line  and  plumb  and  must  be  w ell  tied  into  other  walls  and 
be  wedged  against  floor  above.  All  units  to  be  laid  up  in  cement  mortar  with  bonding 
joints  of  at  least  three  inches  in  every  course.  Reinforced  lintels  are  to  be  used  over  all 
openings. 

(11)  LINTELS: 

Straub  Reinforced  Cinder  Concrete  Lintels  shall  be  built  into  the  walls  over  the  open- 
ings as  indicated  on  the  drawings  and  all  lintels  shall  have  a modulus  of  rupture  of  not 
less  than  800  pounds  per  square  inch. 

(12)  PORCH  COLUMNS  AND  PIERS: 

Porch  columns  and  piers  shall  be  erected  with  blocks  of  such  sizes  as  to  conform 
with  the  dimensions  indicated  on  the  drawings. 

Where  heavy  loads  are  to  be  carried  on  columns  and  piers  they  shall  be  built  of  solid 
Straub  Units  instead  of  hollow. 

(13)  CHI  M NEA  : 

All  chimneys  and  fire-places  shall  be  constructed  of  Straub  Cinder  Building  Units 
as  shown  on  the  drawings,  faced  with  suitable  fire  brick  where  exposed  to  heat. 

Provide  clay  flue  linings  of  the  sizes  indicated  for  all  chimneys,  wiping  all  joints 
carefully  as  the  several  sections  are  erected. 

(14)  CHIMNEY  CAP: 

Provide  Straub  Cinder  Chimney  Cap,  pre-cast  concrete,  stone  or  brick  as  indicated 
on  the  drawings. 

(15)  ROOF  PLATES: 

Build  in  W"'anchor  bolts  as  indicated  on  drawings, five  feeton  centers,  for  the  fasten- 
ing of  the  wooden  roof  plates,  the  bolts  to  project  four  inches  beyond  the  top  of  the  wall 
permitting  the  fastening  of  the  two  inch  wooden  roof  plate  and  the  use  of  a washer  and 
nut.  These  anchor  holts  are  to  he  securely  fastened  by  means  of  filling  the  hollow  spaces 
of  the  blocks  around  the  bolts  with  cement  mortar  or  concrete. 

(16)  CUTTING  AND  PATCHING: 

This  contractor  shall  do  all  cutting  and  patching  of  his  work,  and  that  of  other  con- 
tractors, required  for  the  proper  installation  of  work  by  other  trades,  and  any  necessary 
cutting  and  repairing  is  to  he  reported  to  the  architect  for  adjustment  with  the  con- 
tractor for  whom  such  work  is  done.  This  contractor  shall  leave  all  chases  and  openings 
required  by  other  trades  and  build  in  all  anchors,  or  other  accessories  furnished  by 
others.  All  chases  and  openings  that  are  built  or  cut  into  the  walls  shall,  when  ready 
tor  plastering,  be  covered  with  No.  gauge  galvanized  diamond  mesh  expanded  metal 
lath  or  woven  wire  lath  by  (this)  or  (plastering)  contractor.  Lath  to  he  securely 
fastened  into  place  lapping  the  face  of  the  block  by  at  least  2"  on  each  side  to  prevent 
cracking  of  the  plaster.  Upon  completion,  do  any  patching  required  and  remove  all 
rubbish,  equipment  and  surplus  material. 

Contractors  for  plumbing,  heating  and  electric  work,  and  other  trades  will  not  be 
permitted  to  cut  into  the  block  walls  without  permission  from  the  block  masonry  con- 
tractor and  generallv  any  cutting  and  repairing  shall  be  done  by  the  block  mason  and 
the  cost  charged  to  the  contractor  requiring  same.  Contractors  for  other  trades  must 
therefore  arrange  the  installation  of  their  work  so  that  openings  and  chases  may  be 
built  in  where  required,  or  furnish  to,  and  co-operate  with,  the  mason  contractor  in 
setting  the  sockets,  ferrules,  pipings,  conduits,  outlet  boxes  and  fastenings  that  must  be 
built  into  the  Hollow  Block  walls.  Horizontal  chases  will  not  be  permitted  in  block  walls. 


191 


WORKING  PLANS 


193 


Detail  of  Bond  of  8"  and  12"  Walls  with  Pilaster 


Elevation  or  a~  cinder.  Flock 
Wall  with  F Pilaster 


Elevation  or  pier. 
H*Hb fff'-i 


First  course 

h - W':  H 


U /5%. 

Second  Course 


Second  course 


Elevation  or  iz  cinder  Flock 
Wall  with  F Pilaster 


Third  course 


First  course 

>si HK/  ,s* 


Elevation  or  Pier 


second  Course 


194 


Detail  of  8"  Block  Wall  with  Pilaster  and  Chimney 


ISOmiTZIC  V/E  w 
or  & C/NDER  3 LOCK 
Wall  w/tu  pure  ter 
/7/VD  C///MNPY 


SECOND  COUEOE 


195 


Derail  of  Pilaster  Construction,  also  Chimney  Blocks  and  Cap 


Elevation  or  //■  c/nder  slock  wall 
W/r//  P/ /.aster 


■Plan  or 

C///MNEY  Cs 


Second  Co  u roe 


Elevat/on  or 

<3~-  C/nder  Slock 

WALL 

W/ru 

A'  -P/LA 3 TER. 

4-i — /S4 

-+-/ 

196 


Detail  of  8"  Joist  Construction  using  Jamb  Block 


Isometric  View  or  special  jams  Slocks 
In  delation  To  Wood  Joist 


<5k lh* 


i'Hh 


First  course 
-Plan  Showing  Joist  in 
IE  WALL 


■ 


First  course 
Plan  showing  joist  in 
S'  Wall 


second  course 


second  course 


197 


198 


Detail  of  Double  Hung  Window  Construction 


■Plan  Showing  special  jams  Blocks 


•Section  or  Head 
Show/ no  special  lintel 


SECTION  or  JILL 


ELEVATION 


199 


200 


201 


Details  of  Method  of  Backing  Face  Brick 
with  Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Block 

8 if  12  0 1 


Standard  Hollow  Block 
8 x 8 x 16 


mmm 


Solid  Block 
4 x 8 x 16 


12-Inch  Wall 


16-inch  Wall 


Header  Back-up  Block 
(Fat.  Applied  for) 


Approved  by  the 
Bureau  of  Buildings 
of  Greater  New  York 


20  and  24-inch  Walls  Can  be  Built 
by  Use  of  Additional  Block 


202 


Ak/igoY_  fiztPgQQL.  Floor.  5r3TEM 

T/ ON  No.  / 


203 


<N/?oo5  N>oot/oa/  Thru  Floo&  kJlab 


204 


Supporting  Straub  Blocks  before  Alac/ng  Concrete 


THE  PLANTS  MALING 

S T RAU  B (Binder  ‘Building  B L O CK S 


205 


LICENSED  MANUFACTURERS  OF 


Straub  Cinder 


CINDER  BLOCK  CORP.  OF  DELAWARE 
13th  and  Thatcher  Streets 
Wilmington,  Delaware 

WASHINGTON  CONCRETE  PROD.  CORP. 
Woodward  Building 
Washington,  I).  C. 

PINKHAM  & KILBURN 
Palmetto,  Florida 

ATLAS  CINDER  BLOCK  CORPORATION 
29th  and  Missouri  Avenue 
East  St.  Louis,  III. 

MOLINE  CAST  STONE  CO. 

48th  Street  and  Fourth  Avenue 
Moline,  111. 

ILLINOIS  CINDER  BLOCK  CO. 

1239  South  Circle  Avenue 
Forest  Park,  111. 

StraL'B  Cinder  Block  Co.  of  Indianapolis 
385  Century  Building 
Indianapolis,  Indiana 

CINDER  BLOCK  CORPORATION 
Kate  Avenue  and  Western  Maryland  R.  R. 
Baltimore,  Md. 

DETROIT  CINDER  BLOCK  & TILE  CO. 
17201  Newbern  Avenue 
Detroit,  Michigan 

FLINT  CINDER  BLOCK  & PRODUCTS  CO. 
Genesee  Bank  Building 
Flint,  Mich. 

CINDER  BLOCK  COMPANY 
43rd  and  Mill  Creek  Parkway 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 

CINDER  BLOCK  COMPANY  OF  ST.  LOUIS 
9000  Olive  Street  Road 
Clayton,  Mo. 

ST.  JOSEPH  CINDER  BLOCK  CO. 

St.  Joseph,  Mo. 

IDEAL  CEMENT  STONE  CO. 

31st  and  Spalding  Streets 
Omaha,  Nebraska 


Building  Block 


BERGEN  BUILDING  BLOCK  CO. 

9 Paulison  Avenue 
Ridgefield  Park,  New  Jersey 

CONCRETE  SPECIALTIES  COMPANY 
Mt.  Ephraim  Ave.,  North  of  Grant  Ave. 
Camden,  New  Jersey 

HUDSON  FIREPROOF  BLOCK  CO. 
Homestead 

North  Bergen,  New  Jersey 

CINDER  BRICK  & TILE  CO. 

Van  Keuren  Avenue 
Jersey  City,  N.  J. 

CONCRETE  SPECIALTIES  CO. 
Head  of  Beakes  Avenue 
Trenton,  New  Jersey 
(P.  O.  Box  367) 

HUDSON  FIREPROOF  BLOCK  CO. 
Westfield,  N.  J. 

ELMIRA  BUILDING  UNITS,  INC. 
1898  Grand  Central  Avenue 
Elmira,  New'  York 

ROCHESTER  CINDER  BLOCK  CORP. 
Norman  Street 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 

JAMESTOWN  BLOCK  & TILE  CO. 
Jamestown,  N.  Y. 

P.  O.  Box  712 

CINDER  TILE  COMPANY,  INC. 

250  Park  Avenue 
New  York  City 

STRAUB  BUILDING  UNITS,  INC. 

2 Annette  Street 
Binghampton,  N.  Y. 

PETER  KLUG 
Youngstown,  Ohio 

GARLAND  BLOCK  & SAND  CO. 
Youngstown,  Ohio 

SPRINGFIELD  CINDER  BLOCK  CO. 
1076  Kenton  Street 
Springfield,  Ohio 


206 


CINDER  BUILDING  BLOCK  CO. 
Warren,  Ohio 

YORK  PATENTED  BUILDING  BLOCK  CO. 
York,  Pa. 

LANCASTER  CONCRETE  TILE  CO. 

22S  North  Water  Street 
Lancaster,  Pa. 

STRAUB  BLOCK  CO.,  OF  PITTSBURGH 
908  Park  Building 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

WETM ORE- HENDERSON  LUMBER  CO 
Warren,  Pennsylvania 

HOLLYWOOD  BUILDING  BLOCK  CO. 
North  Plymouth  Street 
Allentown,  Pa. 

PHILA.  PARTITION  & BLDG.  BLOCK  CO. 
28th  and  Ritner  Streets 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 

NEPENNA  BUILDING  MATERIALS  CO. 
Kingstown,  Pa. 

A.  DEMBACHER  & SONS 
Greenville,  Pa. 

HARRISBURG  BUILDING  BLOCK  CO. 
Cameron  and  Iteily  Streets 
Harrisburg,  Pa. 

ERIE  PATENT  BLOCK  CO.,  INC. 

Erie,  Pa. 

POTTSYILLE  BUILDING  BLOCK  CO. 
South  Centre  Street  and  Schuylkill  Haven  Pike 
Pottsville,  Pa. 

JUNIATA  RECONSTRUCTED  STONE  CO. 
Juniata,  Pa. 

BERKS  BUILDING  BLOCK  CO. 
Northmont 
Reading,  Pa. 


STRAUB  BLOCK  CO. 

Taylor  and  Mill  Streets 
New  Castle,  Pa. 

HAN KINS-PAULSON  CO. 

North  Beeson  Avenue 
Uniontown,  Pa. 

DELVAN  BLOCK  COMPANY 
East  Southern  Avenue 
South  Williamsport,  Pa. 

BUILDING  MATERIALS  CO. 
Greenburg,  Pa. 

APOLLO  STEEL  CO. 

Apollo,  Pa. 

BEAVER  BUILDING  BLOCK  CO. 
Monaca,  Pa. 

MR.  L.  T.  SMITH 
Mt.  Pocono,  Pa. 

JAMES  L.  SHREFFLER 
Lewistown,  Pa. 

RICHMOND  PATENT  BLDG.  BLOCK  CORP 
P.  O.  Box  144,  West  End  Station 
Richmond,  Virginia 

NORFOLK  BUILDING  BLOCK  CORP. 
Flanders  Avenue  and  Cromwell  Road 
Fairmount  Park 
Norfolk,  Va. 

FAIRMOUNT  WALL  PLASTER  COMPANY 
Fairmount,  West  Virginia 
(Fourteen  sub-licenses  and  distributors  in 
West  Virginia) 

HARTFORD  CINDER  BLOCK  CO. 
Hartford,  West  Va. 

CINGRETE,  INC. 

Clarksburg,  West  Virginia 

CONCRETE  PRODUCTS  CORPORATION 
6022  Plankinton  Building 
Milwaukee,  Wis. 


Patents  owned  by 
CROZIER-STRAUB,  INC. 
120  West  42nd  Street 
New  York  City 


207 


208 


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